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THE 


BIRDS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 


REGINALD  HEBER  HOWE,  Junior, 


GLOVER  MORRILL  ALLEN, 


Members  of  ike  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club 

and 

Associate  Members  of  the  American  Ornithologists^  Union 


PUBLISHED    BY    SUBSCRIPTION 

CAMBRIDGE,    MASSACHUSETTS 

I9OI 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAViS 


Advertisement. 

The  Edition  of  this  work  numbers  five  hundred  copies,  four 
hundred  and  fifty  of  which  are  bound  in  cloth,  and  the  remaining 
fifty  in  paper. 


This  copy  is  No.^t^.lAUiArwu.  ^^  ^  • 


Copyright,  1901. 

BY 

Reginald  Heber  Howe,  Junior,  and   Glover  Morrill  Allen. 


CONTENTS. 

Introduction           .          .          . 

PAGE. 

4 

Discussion  of  Faunal  Areas 

6 

Explanatory  Note           .          .          .         . 

14 

Annotated  List  of  Species 

15 

List  of  Extirpated  Species      . 

132 

List  of  Extinct  Species 

'33 

List  of  Introduced  Species     . 

134 

List  of  Species  Erroneously  Recorded 

137 

Apocryphal  Species 

139 

Bibliography 

141 

Errata            ..... 

146 

Indexes, 

Scientific  Names     .          . 

147 

Vernacular  Names 

151 

INTRODUCTION. 

In  the  present  work  the  authors  have  tried  to  bring  together 
into  convenient  and  permanent  form  all  the  material  published  on 
Massachusetts  birds  up  to  the  date  of  the  publication  of  this  work ; 
as  well  as  to  add  as  much  original  matter  as  possible,  both  gener- 
ously supplied  from  outside  sources,  and  from  our  personal  obser- 
vations. Since  about  1833  Massachusetts  has  been  a  centre  of 
ornithological  work,  and  the  literature  on  Massachusetts  birds 
probably  exceeds  the  ornithological  literature  of  almost  any  other 
state  in  the  Union.  The  authors  therefore  ask  the  indulgence  of 
their  readers,  as  their  task  has  been  a  very  difficult  one,  and  omis- 
sions, as  well  as  errors  may  have  crept  in  inadvertently. 

The  plan  adopted  has  been  to  offer,  after  a  careful  discussion  of 
Topography  and  Faunal  Areas,  an  Annotated  List  which  first  gives 
the  status  of  each  species,  then  the  dates  of  arrival  and  departure 
of  species  in  Massachusetts,  followed  by  annotations  taken  from 
already  published  local  lists  of  importance,  and  others  supphed 
by  trustworthy  ornithologists  from  desirable  localities,  especially 
along  the  coast.  The  counties  of  the  State,  therefore,  all  save  four^ 
Franklin,  Suffolk,  Plymouth  and  Barnstable,  have  lists  from  one  or 
more  towns  in  them,  or  of  the  county  as  a  whole,  viz.  —  Berkshire 
County  list ;  Hampshire  :  Amherst ;  Hampden  :  Springfield  ; 
Worcester  :  Templeton  ;  Middlesex  :  Cambridge,  vicinity  of  Wel- 
lesley ;  Norfolk :  Brookline,  Dedham,  Cohasset ;  Essex  County 
list  and  Ipswich ;  Bristol  County  list ;  Dukes :  Martha's  Vine- 
yard ;  Nantucket  County  list.  Individuals,  therefore,  working  in 
restricted  portions  of  this  topographically  varied  State,  will  have,  in 
many  cases,  annotations  applicable  to  their  particular  region. 
The  Annotated  List  is  followed  by  Lists  of  Extinct  and  Extirpated 
Species,  Introduced  Species,  Species  Erroneously  Recorded,  and 
of  Apocryphal  Species.  The  Bibliography  contains  only  the  lists 
published  exclusively  on  Massachusetts  birds.  All  original  records, 
and  other  published  notes  of  especial  interest  are  cited  as  foot- 
notes in  the  text  itself.-  The  work  is  completed  with  two 
Indexes,  one  of  Scientific,  and  one  of  Vernacular  Names. 


Introduction  C 

The  nomenclature 'is  in  the  main  the  same  as  followed  by  the 
American  Ornithologists'  Union  Check-List,  but  we  have  copied 
the  order  given  in  Sharpe's  "  Handlist "  as  far  as  it  is  published. 
The  order  followed  beyond  where  his  work  remains  unpublished, 
is  approximately  that  to  be  used  by  Dr.  Robert  Ridgway  in  his 
forthcoming  work,  and  it  is  through  his  kindness  that  we  are  here 
allowed  to  make  use  of  it.  We  have  also  made  various  changes  in 
orthography  for  the  sake  of  consistency. 

The  authors  wish  to  express  their  sincere  thanks  to  Drs.  Walter 
Faxon  and  Charles  W.  Townsend,  and  to  Messrs.  William  Brewster, 
George  H.  Mackay,  Henry  B.  Bigelow,  Manton  Copeland,  Arthur 
C.  Bent,  Juliiis  R.  Wakefield,  Robert  O.  Morris,  Charles  E.  Ingalls, 
C.  J.  Paine,  Jr.,  H.  V.  Greenough,  ¥.  H.  Allen,  Outram 
Bangs  and  others,  who  have  assisted  them  materially  in  their 
work. 

REGINALD  HEBER  HOWE,  Junior, 
GLOVER  MORRILL  ALLEN. 

Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 
May,  1901. 


THE  FAUNAL  AREAS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Massachusetts,  occupying  south-central  New  England  from  lat. 
41°  N.  to  lat.  43°  N.,  affords  a  great  diversity  of  physical  condi- 
tions for  the  support  of  a  large  and  varied  fauna.  Although  the 
direct  distance  between  its  northeast  and  southeast  comers  is 
but  95  miles,  its  entire  length  of  coast  line  following  the  main 
capes  and  bays,  amounts  to  nearly  300  miles.  The  northeast  coast 
is  rugged  and  rocky,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Ann,  Be- 
tween this  region  and  the  southern  part  of  Cape  Cod,  the  shores 
are  sandy  with  numerous  protected  coves  and  bays.  The  barrier 
beaches  at  the  south  of  Cape  Cod,  together  with  Martha's  Vine- 
yard and  Nantucket,  form  a  protection  for  the  fiord-like  coast  line 
of  the  southernmost  part  of  the  State.  These  fiords,  of  which 
Buzzard's  Bay  —  30  miles  long  and  10  miles  wide  —  is  the  largest, 
represent  a  submerged  valley  system. 

The  large,  low  islands  of  Nantucket  and  Martha's  Vineyard, 
with  their  numerous  lagoons  on  the  seaward  side,  are  sandy  but 
well  wooded  in  certain  parts.  Together  they  cover  over  100 
square  miles.  The  smaller  islands  in  this  region,  Muskeget, 
Tuckemuck,  and  the  EUzabeth  Islands,  are  also  of  interest,  be- 
cause of  the  peculiar  environmental  conditions  which  they  offer. 
The  broad  expanse  of  shallow  water  extending  eastward  from 
Cape  Cod,  covers  a  land  area  which  includes  George's  Bank,  120 
miles  from  land,  and  is  by  some  considered  as  a  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

From  sea  level  on  the  east,  the  mainland  rises  gradually  to  the 
westward,  and  reaches  its  greatest  height  in  the  north-western  part 
of  Berkshire  County.  This  is  due  to  the  wearing  away  of  the 
land  to  nearly  base  level,  and  its  subsequent  uplift,  so  that. the 
former  plain  is  now  highest  in  the  northwest.  Barnstable  County 
(Cape  Cod)  and  the  greater  part  of  Plymouth  and  Bristol  Coun- 
ties are  comparatively  level  and  free  from  outcrops,  for  the  rock 
foundation  is  covered  with  glacial  detritus  to  a  considerable  depth. 
The  north-eastern  regions  of  the  State  are  more  hilly  with  frequent 
rocky  outcrops,  and  are  marked  by  numerous  drumlins  and  eskers. 
The  highest  points  in  this  eastern  district  are  found  in  the  Blue 
Hills  of  Norfolk  County,  which  attain  an  elevation  of  635  feet 


Faunal  Areas  *l 

above  sea  level.  The  central  and  western  portions  of  the  State 
may  be  described  as  a  much  dissected  plateau,  with  deep  side- 
valleys  and  occasional  projecting  peaks,  or  "  monadnocks."  The 
deep  Connecticut  Valley,  crossing  this  plateau,  divides  it  into 
two  regions  of  high,  hilly  land.  The  upland  region  to  the  east 
of  the  Connecticut  river  may  be  regarded  as  the  southern  exten- 
sion of  the  White  Mountains.  Its  highest  point  is  Mt.  Wachu- 
sett  (2,018  feet).  To  the  west  of  the  Connecticut  are  several 
ranges  of  north  and  south  trending  hills,  which  are  a  continuation 
of  the  Green  Mountain  system  of  Vermont.  Of  these,  the  Hoosac 
Range  and  its  southern  prolongation,  form  a  divide  between  the 
valley  of  the  Connecticut  on  the  east  and  the  Hoosac  and  the 
Housatonic  Rivers  on  the  west.  On  the  western  border  of  the 
State,  runs  the  Taconic  Range,  among  whose  highest  peaks  are 
Berlin  Mt.  (2804  feet),  Mt.  Everett  (2624  feet),  Potter  Mt.  (2410 
feet)  and  Perry's  Peak  (2077  feet).  In  the  northern  part  of 
Berkshire  County,  between  the  Taconics  and  the  Hoosacs,  is  the 
great  mass  of  Saddle  Mountain,  the  highest  land  in  the  State, 
whose  loftiest  peak,  Mt.  Greylock,  rises  3505  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea. 

Of  north  and  south-trending  rivers,  so  important  as  highways  of 
migration,  and  of  intrusion  from  the  south,  the  largest  is  the  Con- 
necticut, which  traverses  the  west-central  part  of  the  State.  Its 
valley  is  broad,  except  where  it  crosses  the  Holyoke  Range  of 
hills.  Its  main  side  streams  are  the  Deerfield  and  Westfield  Riv- 
ers, which  flow  in  from  the  west,  and  the  Chicopee  and  Miller's 
Rivers  which  enter  from  the  east.  The  drainage  basin  of  the 
Connecticut  and  its  tributaries  in  this  State  is  thus  about  sixty 
miles  broad  and  includes  Franklin  and  Hampshire  Counties,  and 

parts  of  Hampden,  Worcester  and  Berkshire  Counties.     The  Con- 

• 
necticut  River  in  its  passage  through  the  State  falls  about  130 

feet.  Other  north  and  south  running  rivers  are  the  Housatonic 
and  Farmington  Rivers  in  southern  Berkshire  County,  the  Black- 
stone  and  French  Rivers  of  southern  Worcester  County,  and  the 
numerous  smaller  streams  which  flow  south  into  the  bays  of  Bris- 
tol County.  In  eastern  Massachusetts  are  a  number  of  rivers 
which  flow  eastward  into  the  Atlantic.  Chief  among  these  is  that 
part  of  the  Merrimac  near  the  northeastern    border,  which,  with 


8  Birds  of  IMassachusktts 

its  tributaries,  drains  three  fourths  of  Middlesex,  and  one  fourth 
of  Worcester  Counties.  The  Ipswich,  Mystic,  Charles  and  Nepon- 
set  Rivers,  with  their  tide-water  marshes  are  the  other  important 
streams  of  the  coast.  In  northern  Berkshire,  the  Hoosac  River 
flows  northwestward,  emptying  into  the  Hudson  River  outside 
the  confines  of  the  State.  It  seems  probable  that  this  valley  may 
serve  as  a  highway  along  which  southern  and  western  species  are 
enabled  to  reach  northern  Berkshire. 

In  Worcester  County  are  the  greatest  number  of  lakes.  Many 
of  considerable  size  occur  also  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
State,  and  there  are  a  few  large  bodies  of  water  in  the  Housatonic 
Valley  in  southern  Berkshire. 

The  mean  annual  temperature  of  Massachusetts  ranges  from 
44°  F.  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  to  50°  in  the  extreme 
southeast.  During  the  summer  months,  the  isothermal  line  of 
65°  dips  into  the  northern  part  of  the  State  on  either  side  of  the 
Connecticut  Valley,  whither  it  is  brought  down  by  the  mountain- 
ous regions  about  Mt.  Greylock  and  Mt.  Wachusett.  The  isotherm 
of  68°  on  the  other  hand  swings  up  the  Connecticut  Valley  from 
the  south,  as  far  as  the  Holyoke  Range.  During  the  winter 
months,  the  temperature  averages  from  about  22°  in  the  north- 
west, to  30°  and  32°  along  the  south  shore  and  the  islands  of 
Martha's  Vineyard  and  Nantucket. 

The  average  rainfall  for  the  year  is  least  in  the  extreme  north- 
western part  of  the  State,  and  is  greatest  over  a  narrow  belt  ex- 
tending from  northeast  to  southwest  across  the  east-central  region. 
Proximity  to  the  sea  reduces  the  quantity  of  rainfall  along  the 
coast  in  summer,  but  causes  great  humidity  in  this  region  during 
the  cool  seasons. 

Four  life  zones  are  represented  by  the  breeding  birds  of  Massa- 
chusetts, viz.:  the  Upper  Austral,  the  Transition,  the  Canadian 
and  the  Hudsonian  zones.  These  will  be  considered  separately 
as  follows : 

Upper  Austral :  Representatives  of  this  life  zone  are  present  as 
a  small,  though  fairly  constant  element  of  the  breeding  fauna  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Housatonic  and  Hoosac  Rivers  of  Berkshire  County 
and  the  southern  part  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  in  Hampden  and 
Hampshire  Counties,  as  well  as  the  valleys  along  the  south  shore 


Faunal  Areas 


9 


and  up  on  the  coast  as  far  north  as  the  vicinity  of  Boston  Bay, 
beyond  which,  Cape  Ann  seems  to  afford  an  effectual  barrier.  It 
must  be  stated,  however,  that  north  of  the  south  shore  of  Bristol 
County,  the  occurrence  of  birds  characteristic  of  this  zone,  is,  in 
the  main,  irregular  and  uncertain,  if  not  often  accidental.  The 
following  twelve  Upper  Austral  birds  have  been  ascertained  to 
breed  in  the  State  in  the  general  areas  named  in  connection,  with 
each,  but  where  only  a  single  instance  of  breeding  is  known,  the 
locality  is  specified  :  — 

Porzana  javiaicensh^  Chatham.  Gallinula  galeata^  Berkshire  Valleys 
and  along  the  coast  into  Middlesex  Co.  Empidoiiax  (\c  adieu  A  Hjde  Park.  wAJU>CVxv^ 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis.  North  Adams.  Vireo  noveboraccmis.  southern 
Berkshire  Co.,  and  along  the  coast  into  Essex  Co.  Mimus polyglottos^ 
Conn,  valley  of  southern  Hampden  Co.,  southern  Bristol  Co.,  and  along 
the  coast  into  Middlesex  Co.  Icteria  virens,  valleys  of  Berkshire  Co.^ 
Bristol  Co.,  and  along  the  coast  into  Essex  Co.  S/urus  inotacilla^  Sheffield. 
Spiza  amert'cafia,  formerly  in  Berkshire  Valleys  and  along  the  coast  into 
Middlesex  Co.  Icterus  sfurius,  Berkshire  Valleys,  Conn,  valley  in 
Hampden  Co.,  and  along  the  coast  into  Middlesex  Co.  Cardiiiali& 
carduialis,  Cambridge.     Ammodyamua  jnaritimus,  Westport. 

The  following  eight  species,  characteristic  of  the  Upper 
Austral  zone  have  been  found  in  Massachusetts  during  the 
breeding  season,  under  such  circumstances  as  to  suggest  the 
probability  of  their  breeding  in  the  State,  even  though  no  nests 
were  found :  — 

Sterna  maxima^  Rynchops  ?iigra,  Nycticorax  violaceus,  Corvifs  oss/fra- 
gus,  Polioptila  cceruleu,  Thryflthorus  Indovicicuius,  Wilsonia  mitrata^ 
Protouotaria  dtrca. 

In  addition,  the  following  nineteen  Upper  Austral  birds  have 
been  recorded  as  stragglers  or  occasional  visitors  to  the  State  :  — 

Pallns  elegans,  Rallus  crepitans.,  lonornis  inartiiiica,  HcEina/opus  pal-  ■ 
liatus,  Himantopus  mexicanus,  liecnrvirostra  americana,  Ardea  egretta, 
Ardea  ccerulea,  Ardea  candidissima.,  Catharista  urtcbu,  Cathartes  aura., 
Elano'ides  forficatus.,  Strix  pratincola,  Melanerpes  carolinus,  Dendroeca 
rara^  HehninthopJiila  pinus^  Helmitherus  vennizwrus^  Piranga  rubra^ 
Guiraca  ccerulea.,. 

Transition:  This  zone  covers  the  greater  part  of  Massachu- 
setts, including  most  of  the  territory  up  to  about  2000  feet  on  the 
hills  and  mountains  of  the  western  part  of  the  State  and  exclusive 


lO  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

of  the  "  islands  "  of  the  Canadian  zone  to  be  mentioned  later.  The 
Transition  zone  is  a  region  of  nicely  adjusted  balance.  Southern 
species  endeavoring  to  extend  their  range  to  the  north,  here  meet 
northern  species  pushing  down  towards  the  south.  Since  this  re- 
gion, then,  is  one  in  which  a  large  number  of  species  are  able  to 
live,  there  is  bound  to  be  a  more  or  less  keen  competition  for  living- 
room  among  its  inhabitants.  If  one  species  for  any  reason  loses 
ground,  another  will  sooner  or  later  take  its  place.  Interesting 
cases  of  this  sort  are  recorded  ^  in  w^hich  Wood  Thrushes  have 
invaded  the  former  ranges  of  the  Hermit  Thrush  after  the  great 
mortality  among  the  latter  in  1895.  A  number  of  other  instances 
of  a  species  losing  ground  on  the  borders  of  its  range  may  be  ex- 
plicable by  the  fact  that  individuals  habitually  frequenting  such 
outlying  localities  are  cut  off  in  numbers  by  some  severe  and  unex- 
pected disturbance,  so  that  their  former  habitat  is  left  vacant  for 
occupancy  by  others.  Many  other  causes  doubtless  enter  into 
the  complexity  of  the  problem.  Cutting  off  of  timber  changes 
both  the  future  plant  life  and  climate  of  the  spot  and  consequently 
the  fauna.  Thus  cutting  away  a  spruce  forest,  with  its  coolness 
and  dense  shelter,  gives  ris^  to  a  growth  of  deciduous  trees,  whose 
open  branches  allow  the  sun  to  dry  up  the  moisture  formerly  held 
by  the  denser  trees,  and  thus  a  new  fauna  comes  in. 

Following  is  a  list  of  forty-five  birds  of  the  Austral  zones 
which  range  north  into  the  Transition  zone  of  Massachusetts  and 
here  breed : 

Tympanuchus  cupido^  Bonasa  umbellus  umbellus^  Colinus  virgifiiaiius, 
Zenaidura  macrura,  Sterna  doiigalli,  Sterna  antillarum^  Larus  atricilla, 
./Egialitis  vocifera,  y^giulith  meloda,  Bartramia  longicauda^  Butorides 
virescens,  Ardetta  exilis,  Megascops  asi'o,  Atitrostovitis  voctferus,  Coccygus 
americanus^  Sayornis  phoebe^  Myiarckus  crtm'tus,  Tyrannus  iyraunus^ 
Vireo Jiavifrons^  Lajiitis  ludovicianus  migrajis^  Sitta  carolinensis^  i^^f^^g^  H^Jx- 
rvNAAyvo  * ledyie^  aedon^  Cistothorus  stellaris,  Cistothorus  palustris^  Galeoscoptes  " 
carolinensis^  Harporrkynchns  rtiftis,  Sialia  sialis,  Hylocichla  musteltna, 
Dendrceca  discolor^  Dendrceca  vigorsii\  Dendrceca  CBstiva,  Helviintho- 
phila  chrysoptera^  Piranga  erythromelas,  Icterus  galbula^  Sturuella 
magna,  AgelcBus  phcetticcus^  Molothrus  ater,  Passerina  cyanea^  Pipilo 
erythrophthalmus^  Spizella  socialis^  Spizella  pusilla,  Ammodranius  cau- 
dacutus,  Ainmodramus  hensloxvtt\  Atnmodranius  savannarinn  passeritius, 
Pocecetes  graviineus. 

1  Faxon,  W.,  and  R.  Hoffmann;  The  Birds  of  Berkshire  County,  Massachu- 
setts, pp.  9,  10.     Allen,  F.  H. ;  St.  Johnsbury  Caledonian,  Sept.  11,  1896. 


Faunal  Areas  1 1 

Birds  which  find  their  southern  breeding  limit  in  the  Transition 
zone,  fall  roughly  into  two  classes,  (i)  upper  Transition  species 
which  are  limited  in  their  breeding  range  on  the  north  by  the 
Canadian  fauna  and  extend  southward  so  as  slightly  to  overlap 
the  Carolinian  zone;  (2)  lower  Canadian  species  which  breed 
more  or  less  frequently  in  the  upper  Transition  zone. 

The  following  twelve  species  are  examples  of  the  first  class : — 

Rallus  virgiuiauus^  Porzaua  Carolina^  Podilymbus  fodiceps?^  Atias 
obscura  ?^  Empidonax  minimus^  Empidonax  traillii  alnorum,  Tachycineta 
bicolor  /,  Hyloct'chla  fnscescens,  Detidroeca  pennsilvanica^  Dolickojiyx  ot yzi- 
vorus^  Melospiza  georgiana^  Passerculus  sand-wichensis  savatina. 

The  second  group  includes  the  following  eleven  birds  which 
breed  in  Massachusetts:  — 

Gavia  imbe)%  Larus  argentatus  f  ^  (Weepecket  Id.,  Auk,  IX,  1882,  p. 
226),  NiittallorHis  borealis^  Vireo  solitarius^  Partis  atricapillus^  Hyloci- 
chla  guttata  fallasti,  Dendi-O'ca  virens,  Compsothlypts  americaiia  tistiece  P^ 
Helminthophila  riibricapilla,  Loxia  curvirostra  minor  f^  Carpodacus pur- 
pur  eus  P. 

Cape  Cod  because  of  its  peculiar  character,  deserves  a  passing 
mention.  The  Gulf  Stream  is  near  enough  on  the  south  to  make 
its  influence  felt,  and  the  cold  Polar  current  flows  not  far  away  on 
the  north.  Its  sandy  soil  supports  a  growth  of  oaks  and  pitch 
pine  woods  in  many  places,  and  cranberry  bogs  alternate  with  dry 
fields.  The  long  Usnea  moss  grows  over  a  large  part  of  the  Cape 
in  the  woods,  affording  thus  a  home  for  the  Northern  Parula 
Warbler.  Hermit  Thrushes  and  Olive-sided  Flycatchers  summer 
in  small  numbers  in  certain  places.  On  the  other  hand  so  south- 
ern a  species  as  the  Mockingbird  has  been  found  to  probably 
breed  at  Hyannis  and  North  Truro,  and  the  Florida  Gallinule  at 
Provincetown.  Bobolinks,  Indigo  Birds,  and  Rose-breasted  Gros- 
beaks are  said  to  be  entirely  absent  from  the  Cape  in  summer. 
Among  other  interesting  species  of  this  area,  the  Terrapin  {Mala- 
deniys  terrapinY  a  southern  reptile,  occurs  in  the  waters  along 

iThe  Terrapin  was  first  recorded  from  Massachusetts  by  Dr.  J.A.Allen 
(Proc.  Best.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XIII,  1871,  p.  260,  read  Mar.  16,  1870.)  Speci- 
mens were  noted  from  New  Bedford,  Wareham  and  Nantucket.  It  was  again 
recorded  by  Mr.  O,  Bangs  (tbid.,Yo\.  27,  pp.  159-161,  Oct.,  1896)  who  ob- 
tained specimens  from  the  same  region. 


12  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

the  south  shore  of  the  Cape,  and  the  Toad  of  this  region  has  been 
by  some  considered  as  a  distinct  species  under  the  name  of  Btifo 
fowleri  Put.  The  Garter  Snake  known  as  Tha7nnophis  sirtalis 
ordinata,  a  southern  form,  occurs  at  least  as  far  as  the  islands  to 
the  south  of  the  Cape.  Here  too,  on  Martha's  Vineyard,  the  Her- 
mit Thrush  is  found  in  summer  about  Lake  Tashmoo.  In  short 
the  entire  region  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  in  the  State  and 
needs  a  more  careful  study. 
»  Canadian  :  This  zone  includes  the  higher  regions  of  Worcester 

and  Berkshire  Counties,  above  an  altitude  of  from  i,8oo  to  2,000 
feet.  A  southerly  exposure  forces  the  lower  boundary  of  the  zone 
upward,  but  it  is  carried  down  by  a  northern  slope  which  does  not 
get  so  great  an  insolation,  or  by  streams  and  deep  ravines  which 
furnish  a  large  supply  of  moisture  and  consequent  coolness  by 
evaporation.  Canadian  "  islands  "  are  of  frequent  occurrence  in 
the  midst  of  Transition  territory.  These  areas  in  Massachusetts, 
are  usually  cedar  swamps  and  occur  often  about  the  larger  bodies 
of  water,  or  in  low  damp  situations.  The  extensive  cedar  swamps 
of  Plymouth  and  Bristol  Counties  are  instances  of  such  "  islands." 
In  them  the  cedars  stand  in  clumps  of  two  or  three,  causing  a 
slight  elevation  of  the  ground  about  their  roots.  Their  thick  tops 
cast  a  dense  shade  upon  the  sphagnum-carpeted  surface  beneath. 
An  undergrowth  of  bushes  often  makes  difficult  any  attempt  to 
penetrate  into  the  swamp,  a  hindrance  which  is  increased  by  the 
extreme  treacherousness  of  the  ground  itself.  Cranberry  bogs 
skirt  such  swamps,  and  here  the  pitcher  plant  {Sarracenia pur- 
purea)^ the  sundew  {Drosera  rotundifolia)  and  the  orchids  Pogonia 
and  Calapogon  luxuriate. 

Apart  from  these  islands,  the  Canadian  zone  of  the  uplands  is 
characterized  by  such  trees  as  the  Red  Spruce  {Ficea  rubra)  and 
the  White  Pine  {Pinus  strobus)  .  This  life  zone  in  Massachusetts 
belongs  to  the  loiver^  rather  than  to  the  upper  Canadian,  and  is 
characterized  by  the  following  twenty-four  breeding  birds :  — 

Bonasa  umbclliis  togata^  Cryptoglanx  acadica^  Sfhyrapicus  varius,  Dry- 

obates  villosus,  Ceophlaeus  pileatus  abieticola,  Nnttallornis  borealis,   Vireo 

solitarius^  Regulu$  satrafa^   Sitta  canadefisis^  Certhia  familiaris  ameri- 

^xvo<«A.Arv, H '  u         Ciina,  S^nort'kuf^a'  ktemalis^    Hylocichla    ustulata    sivainsoiiii^   Hylocichta 

^  guttata  pallasii\   Wihtnia  canadetisis^   Geothlyf  is  Philadelphia^  Deiidraeca 


Faunal  Areas  I^ 

C(Erulesce7is^  Dendrceca  coronata,  Dendrceca  maculosa,  Dendroeca  black- 
burnicB,  Helmitithophila  rubricapilla^  Junco  hiemalis,  Zonotrichia  albicollis, 
Spinus  fintis  f  •,  Loxia  curvirostra  mitior  f. 

It  may  be  added  that  of  these  species,  the  Red  Crossbill  {Loxia 
curvirostra  minor)  and  the  Pine  Siskin  {Spi?ius  pijius)  breed  in 
the  State  very  irregularly  so  far  as  known,  and  may,  because  of 
their  erratic  habits  in  this  respect,  be  left  out  of  consideration  in  a 
discussion  of  our  faunal  areas.  In  this  connection  it  is  also  inter- 
esting to  note  the  occurrence  of  the  Tennessee  Warbler  {Helmin- 
thophila  peregrina),  a  bird  of  the  Upper  Canadian  zone,  which 
was  recorded  by  Dr.  W.  Faxon,  as  seen  on  Mt.  Greylock.  July  15 
and  16,  1888,  at  about  3,000  feet  altitude. 

Hudsonian  :  The  claim  of  this  life  zone  to  a  place  among  the 
faunal  areas  of  Massachusetts  rests  at  present,  almost  solely  on 
the  occurrence  of  Bicknell's  Thrush  {Hylocichld  alicice  bicknelW)  as 
a  regular  summer  resident  near  the  summit  of  Mt.  Greylock 
(3,505  feet)  .  This  bird  is  generally  considered  an  Hudsonian  spe- 
cies, but  it  ranges  into  the  upper  Canadian  zone  in  favored  locali- 
ties, as  in  the  instance  under  consideration.  Mention  may  be 
made  here  of  the  occurrence  of  an  Hudsonian  Chickadee  {Parus 
hudsoniciis)  on  the  5th  of  June,  1896,  on  the  edge  of  a  dense  cedar 
swamp  in  Plymouth  County.^  This  swamp  was  of  considerable 
extent,  and  supported  a  small  number  of  Canadian  species  of  birds. 
Although  this  record  does  not  necessarily  indicate  that  the  Hud- 
sonian Chickadee  is,  or  ever  was  a  breeding  bird  of  Massachusetts, 
it  at  least  shows  that  there  are  areas  in  the  State  where,  we  may 
assume,  the  bird  finds  congenial  surroundings. 

To  sum  up  the  entire  discussion,  Massachusetts  belongs  in  the 
main  to  the  Transition  and  Canadian  life  zones,  the  Transition 
occupying  much  of  the  area  of  less  than  2,000  feet  altitude,  and 
the  Canadian  corresponding  to  the  area  above  that  level.  A  tinge 
of  the  Upper  Austral  fauna  reaches  the  western  valley  bottoms,  the 
south  shore  and  certain  portions  along  the  east  coast.  A  mere 
trace  of  the  Hudsonian  fauna  is  found  on  the  summit  of  Mt.  Grey 
lock  at  an  altitude  of  about  3,500  feet. 

1  Chadbourne ;   Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1896,  p.  346. 


EXPLANATORY  NOTE. 

The  annotations  for  the  various  localities  following  the  general 
status,  of  each  species  are  compiled  fr.om  the  following  sources. 
For  more  exact  notice  of  these  works  see  Bibliography. 

Amherst :    From  "  The  Birds  of  Amherst,"  by  Hubert  Lyman  Clark,  1887. 

Berkshire  :  From  "  The  Birds  of  Berkshire,"  by  W.  Faxon  and  R.  Hoff- 
mann, 1900. 

Bristol  County  :  From  a  manuscript  list  of  the  birds  of  Bristol  County 
kindly  supplied  especially  for  this  work  by  Mr.  Manton  Copeland  of 
Taunton,  assisted  by  Mr.  Arthur  C  Bent. 

Brookline  :  From  "The  Birds  of  Brookline,"  and  "Additions,"  by  Regi- 
nald Heber  Howe,  Junior,  1900. 

Cambridge  (and  vicinity  including  the  coast  from  Lynn  to  Boston):  From 
Mr.  William  Brewster's  notes  in  Chapman's  "  Handbook  of  the 
Birds  of  Eastern  North  America,"  1895. 

Cohasset  :  From  a  manuscript  list  of  the  Birds  of  Cohasset  kindly  sup- 
plied especially  for  this  work  by  Mr.  Henry  Bryant  Bigelow  of 
Cohasset. 

Springfield  :  From  "  The  Birds  of  Springfield  and  Vicinity,"  embodying 
all  former  lists  on  the  region,  by  Robert  O.  Morris,  1901. 

Dedham  :    From  the  "Birds  of  Dedham,"  by  Julius  Ross  Wakefield,  1891. 

Essex  County  :  From  the  "Birds  of  Essex  County,"  by  F.  W.  Putman, 
1856.     This  list  is  included  for  its  comparative  historical  interest. 

Ipswich  :  From  a  manuscript  list  of  the  Birds  of  Ipswich  kindly  supplied 
especially  for  this  work  by  Dr.  Charles  W.  Townsend  of  Boston. 

Martha's  Vineyard  :  From  a  list  of  the  land-birds  of  Martha's  Vineyard 
Island  compiled  by  the  present  authors  from  notes  generously  sup- 
plied by  Messrs.  Henry  V.  Greenough,  Herbert  L.  Coggins,  Dr. 
Walter  Faxon,  and  others. 

Nantucket:  From  a  manuscript  list  of  the  Water-birds  of  Nantucket 
kindly  supplied  especially  for  this  work  by  Mr.  George  H.  Mackay  of 
Boston. 

Templeton  :  From  "The  Birds  of  Templeton,"  by  Charles  E.  Ingalls, 
1889. 

Wellesley  (and  vicinity) :  From  "  The  Birds  of  Wellesley  "  and  "  The 
Birds  of  Dover,"  by  Albert  Pitts  Morse,  1897. 


ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  SPECIES. 

1.  Canachites  canadensis  (Linn.).     Canada  Grouse. 
Accidental  from  the  north.     The  records  are  :     Gloucester,  one 

found  in  hemlock  woods,  September,  185 1,  and  given  on  the 
authority  of  S.  Jillson  ;  ^  Roxbury,  a  bird  was  shot  in  November, 
*'  a  few  years  since,"  i.  e.  prior  to  1869.^ 

2.  Tympanuchus  cupido  (Linn.).     Heath  Hen. 

Once  unquestionably  common  in  portions  of  the  State,  "  but 
long  since  extirpated  except  on  the  island  of  Martha's  Vineyard, 
where  they  still  exist,  but  are  present  only  in  small  numbers."* 

Martha's  Vineyard:   "Uncommon  resident," 

3.  Bonasa  umbellus  (Linn.).     Ruffed  Grouse. 

A  common  permanent  resident.  Most  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse  in 
Massachusetts  are  more  or  less  intermediate  between  this  and  the 
following  subspecies,  but  .the  majority  of  those  birds  occurring 
in  the  southeastern  portion  are  more  nearly  referable  to  B. 
um  bell  us  iwibellus. 

Amherst:  "Common  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  permanent 
resident."  Bristol  County  :  "Common  permanent  resident."  Brookline  : 
"Common  permanent  resident."  Cambridge  :  Common  permanent  resi- 
dent. Cohasset :  "Common  resident."  Dedham  :  "Common  resident." 
Essex  County :  "Resident.  Common."  Ipswich :  "  Common  in  west- 
ern part  of  township."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "Common  resident."  Spring- 
field :  "Common  resident."  Templeton :  "Common  resident."  Wel- 
lesley :  "  Common  resident." 

4.  Bonasa  umbellus  togata  (Linn.).  Canadian  Ruffed 
Grouse. 

This  bird  occurs  throughout  the  higher  portions  of  the  Berk- 
shires  as  a  resident.  "  Three  specimens  killed  in  North  Adams," 
are  "nearly  typical  examples  "  of  the  race.* 

5.  Colinus  virginianus  (Linn.).     Bob-white. 

*  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1885,  pp.  80-84. 

1  Putnam;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  224. 

^  Allen  ;    Amer,  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  636,  p.  38  of  separate. 

^  Faxon  and  Hoffmann  ;  The  Birds  of  Berkshire,  1900,  p.  148,  p.  42  of  separate. 


1 6  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

A  common  permanent  resident,  though  varying  greatly  in  num- 
bers during  different  seasons.  The  birds  on  Cape  Cod  and  on 
Martha's  Vineyard  were  introduced  from  western  stock  after  the 
practical  extinction  of  the  native  birds  in  about  1850. 

Amherst:  "  Uncoinnion  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Permanent  resident." 
Bristol  County:  "Common  permanent  resident."  Brookline :  "A  per- 
manent resident."  Cambridge:  Common  permanent  resident.  Co- 
hasset :  "  Common  resident."  Dedham  :  "  Common  resident."  Essex 
County:  "Resident.  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "  Common  resident."  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard:  "Common  resident."  Springfield:  "Common  resi- 
dent."   Templeton:    "Rare  resident."      Wellesley:  "Common  resident." 

6.  Ectopistes  migratorius  (Linn.).     Passenger  Pigeon. 
Formerly  an  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  common 

local  summer  resident.  Now  nearly  extirpated,  but  as  Mr.  O. 
Bangs  saw  them  in  October,  1900,  in  Connecticut  they  may  yet 
occur  here.  There  are  no  authentic  records  for  the  State  since 
1889,  when  a  pair  bred  at  Plymouth,  according  to  H.  J.  Thayer  ;i 
it  was  also  seen  during  the  same  year  at  Templeton,  and  one  was 
taken  at  Norton,  in  Bristol  County. 

March  10  to  October  16.     (Winter).* 

Amherst:  "Uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Practically  extermi- 
nated." Bristol  County:  "Last  recorded  at  Norton,  Aug.  23,  1889." 
Brookline  :  "  Formerly  ....  a  rare  migrant."  Cambridge  :  Rare  and 
irregular  transient  visitant.  Dedham  :  One  taken  in  1863  and  another 
in  1874.  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Springfield: 
Abundant  until  1876,  becoming  rarer  until  1880,  the  last  one  seen  being  in 
the  spring  of  1884  at  Southwick.  Templeton:  "Irregular  summer  resi- 
dent. Very  rare  since  1879."  Wellesley  :  Very  rare.  Formerly  a  com- 
mon summer  resident. 

7.  Zenaidura  macrura  (Linn.).     Mourning  Dove. 

A  common,  but  local  summer  resident,  becoming  rarer  near  the 
coast ;  it  winters  rarely. 

March  5  to  November  15.      (Winter.) 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Summer  resi- 
dent, not  uncommon  in  southern  part  of  the  county."  Bristol  County: 
"Rather  rare  transient  visitant,  probably  breeds."  Cambridge:  Occa- 
sional during  summer.     Cohasset :    "  Rare."     Dedham  :    Two  instances. 

1  Thayer;  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  XXXIII,  Oct.  31,  1889,  p.  288. 
*  Dates  in  parentheses' are  abnormally  early  c^r  late  dates. 


Annotated   List  of   Species  1*7 

Essex  County:  "Summer  resident.  Rather  rare."  Springfield:  "Com- 
mon summer,  and  a  very  rare  winter,  resident."  Templeton :  "  Rather 
rare  summer  resident."     Wellesley  :  "Not  uncommon  summer  resident." 

8.  Rallus  elegans  Aud.     King  Rail. 

An  accidental  visitant  from  the  South.  The  records  are  :  Na- 
hant^  one  taken  November  21,  1875  ^;  (Brewer's  record  of  a  bird 
taken  here  in  the  spring  of  1876,  probably  refers  to  this  speci- 
men) :  Sicdbury  Meadows^  Mr.  G.  E.  Browne  took  one  "  some  years 
since,"  i.  e.  prior  to  1878;^  Sp7'ing field,  a  male  taken  on  Long- 
meadow,  October  19,  1895,  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Pease.* 

9.  Rallus  crepitans  Gmel.     Clapper  Rail. 

An  accidental  visitant  from  the  south.  The  records  are  : 
Massachusetts^  one  presented  by  Theodore  Lyman,  to  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History,  August  7,  1850;^  Dedham^  an  adult 
taken  by  Mr.  G.  E.  Browne  in  1863  ;  ^  Taunto7i,  one  shot  by  Mr.  C. 
L.  Blood,  on  October  9,  1864  ;  ^  Boston  Harbour,  one  flew  aboard  a 
vessel,  and  was  captured.  May  4,  1875,  and  is  now  in  the  mounted 
collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History  ; '  Plymouth,  one 
taken  at  Gurnet  Point  by  Mr.  Arthur  Smith,  October,  1879  ;  ^  Ips- 
wich, J.  F.  LeBaron  informed  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  that  he  shot  one 
"some  years  ago"  [prior  to  1870];^  Kifigston,  one  taken  at 
Rocky  Nook,  December  29,  1885  ;  ^°  Springfield^  two  instances  at 
Northampton  and  Hadley  Meadows  ;  ^^  East  Orleans,  a  male  taken 
November  30,  1895,  by  Mr.  J.  G  Rogers,  and  now  in  the  collec- 
tion of  Mr.  William  Brewster. ^'-^ 

iPurdie;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  22. 

2  Purdie;  ibid.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  3,  July,  1878,  p.  146. 

3  Morris;  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1896,  p.  86. 
"Cabot;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  Ill,  1851,  p.  326. 
^Wakefield  ;  Birds  of  Uedham,  1 891,  p.  71. 
^Copeland;  in  MS. 

'  Purdie;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  22. 
8  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1881,  p.  62. 
^Maynard;  Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  145. 

10  Browne;  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1887,  P-  344- 

11  Morris;  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1892,  p.  74,  and  Birds  of  Springfield, 
1901,  p.  13. 

12  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  135. 


1 8  Birds  OF  Massachusetts 

10.  Rallus  virginianus  Linn.     Virginia  Rail. 

A  common  local  summer  resident,  wintering  on  Cape  Cod  and 
once  at  Worcester. 

April  i8  to  October  15   (November  27)  ;   Winter. 

Amherst  :  Nests  about  Adam's  Pond.  Berkshire :  "  Rare  summer 
resident."  Bristol  County :  "  Uncommon  summer  resident."  Brookline  : 
"Formerly  a  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Common  summer  resi- 
dent. Dedham:  "Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Rather 
rare."  Nantucket:  "Not  unusual."  Springfield:  "Abundant  summer 
resident."     Wellesley  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 

11.  Porzana  Carolina  (Linn.).     Carolina  Rail. 
A  common  local  smnmer  resident. 

April  14  to  November  i  (December  20). 

Amherst:  "  Occasional  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Rare  summer 
resident."  Bristol  County :  "  Uncommon  summer  resident."  Brookline: 
"  An  uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge  :  Very  common  summer  resident. 
Dedham:  "Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Rather  rare." 
Ipswich:  Two  instances.  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident,"  often  "abundant  during  autumn."  Templeton  : 
"Abundant  summer  resident."     "Wellesley:   "  Common  summer  resident." 

12.  Porzana  noveboracensis  (Gmel.).     Yellow  Rail. 
A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

April  to  May  ;  September  2  to  October  16. 

Amherst:  One  instance;  Northampton.  Cambridge:  Rare  transient 
visitant.  Dedhain:  "  Rare."  Springfield:  "  Rare  visitor."  Several  in- 
stances.    Templeton:  Mentioned.     Wellesley:  "  Rare  transient  visitant. "^ 

13.  Porzana  jamaicensis  (Gmel.).     Black  Rail. 

An  extremely  rare  summer  resident.  The  records  are :  Ply- 
mouth Harbour^  Clark's  Island,  one  picked  up  dead  in  August, 
1869;^  ^<?j-/^«,  one  found  in  the  streets,  September  20,  1874;^' 
Chatham^  a  pair  with  young  in  July,  1884,  and  a  nest  with  eggs, 
in  May,  1885;''  Hazardville^  bred  "a  number  of  years  ago'^ 
according  to  J.  H.  Batty.* 

1  Purdie;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  22. 
''  Curtis  ;    Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  VIII,  Apr.  5,  1877,  p.  129. 
3  Allen  ;   Revised  Birds  of  Mass.,  1886,  p.  236. 
^  Morris;  Birds  of  Springfield,  1901,  p.  13. 


Annotated   List   of   Species  1 9 

14.  Gallinula  galeata  (Licht.) .     Florida  Gallinule. 

An  uncommon  and  local  summer  resident.*  In  addition  to  the 
localities  named  below,  it  has  been  reported  breeding  at  Cape 
Cod.i 

April  29  to  October  9. 

Cambridge :  Uncommon  summer  resident.  Nantucket :  One  instance. 
Springfield:  "Verj  rare  summer  resident."  Probably  breeds.  Wellesley  : 
"  Rare  summer  resident." 

15.  lonornis  martinica  (Linn.).     Purple  Gallinule. 

An  occasional  visitant  from  the  south,  having  been  taken  once 
in  the  breeding  season.  The  records  are  :  Stofteham,  one  bird 
noted  November  27,  1837  ;  '^  Swampscott,  one  taken  April  22,  1852  ;  3 
Cape  Cod,  one  obtained  by  Mr.  William  Brewster  in  April,  1870 ;  * 
Nantucket,  one  taken  at  Hummock  Pond  in  October,  1872;^ 
Rockport,  one  shot  by  Robert  Wendel,  April  12,  1875  ; "  Chatham^ 
one  seen  in  flesh  in  the  Faneuil  Hall  Market,  Boston,  in  April, 
1890,  which  had  been  caught  in  a  trap;  ^  Plymouth^  a  female  taken 
April  9  [?],  1892,  by  C.  C.  Wood ;  "^  Boxford,  one  caught  in  June, 
1897  ;  "  another,  supposed  to  be  of  the  same  species,  and  the  mate, 
were  seen  at  the  pond."  ^ 

16.  Fulica  americana  Gmel.     American  Coot. 

An  uncommon  migrant,  rare  in  spring  and  perhaps  formerly  a 
summer  resident. 

March  29  to  April  25  ;  September  19  to  November  7'. 

Amherst:  "Occurs  occasionally."  Berkshire:  "Transient  visitant  in 
the  autumn."  Bristol  County :  "  Common  fall  transient  visitant  to  the 
ponds  and  rivers  along  the  coast,  rarer  in  spring."  Brookline  :  "  For- 
merly  not  an  uncommon   migrant."     Cambridge:  Transient  visitant; 

rare  in  April,  common    September    to    November.     Cohasset:  "Rare   in 

*  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,' Jan.,  1891,  pp.  1-7. 

1  Miller;  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1891,  pp.  118,  119. 

2  Peabody  ;   Report  on  Birds  of  Mass.,  1839,  p.  258. 

3  Putnam  ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  224. 

^  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway  ;  Water  Birds,  Vol.  I,  1884,  P-  S^S- 

*  Brewer  ;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  1879,  P-  106. 
^  Whitman;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  IX,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1875,  P-  573- 
'  Wood;  O.  and  O.,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  5,  May,  1892,  p.  72. 

'  Farley  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  190. 


20  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

fall."  Dedham  :  "Sometimes  common  in  fall."  Essex  County :  "Spring 
and  autumn.  Rare."  Nantucket:  "Scarce."  Springfield:  "Common 
autumn  visitor."  Rare  in  spring.  Wellesley  :  "  Migrant ....  not  uncom- 
mon in  fall." 

ly.    Colymbus  auritus  Linn.     Horned  Grebe. 

A  regular  and  not  uncommon  winter  resident,  frequenting 
rocky  shores  ;  occurring  as  a  migrant  on  lakes  and  streams.  "  A 
few  remain  in  summer  "  according  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen.  Mr.  A.  P. 
Morse  says  that  a  pair  were  observed  repeatedly  at  South  Natick 
in  May,  1893  and  1894,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  also  records  a  pair  in 
breeding  plumage  seen  the  first  of  June  at  Springfield. 

October  i  to  June. 

Bristol  County:  "  Common  winter  visitant  to  rivers  and  coast."  Cam- 
bridge :  "  Casual."  Cohasset :  "  Rather  common  fall  uiigrant  and  winter 
resident."  Essex  County:  "Winter.  Rare."  Nantucket:  "Common." 
Springfield  :  "  Some  autumns  "  young  "  quite  common."  "  Adults  rare." 
Templeton:  "  Common  during  fall  migrations."  Wellesley:  "Migrant, 
casual." 

18.  Colymbus  holboellii  (Reinh.).     Holboll's  Grebe. 

A  regular,  and  not  uncommon  winter  visitor  along  the  coast. 
Rare  or  casual  inland.  According  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  it  has  been 
taken  late  in  May,  in  full  bFeeding  plumage,  but  most  of  the  birds 
seen  from  Massachusetts  southward  are  young. 

(Early  September.)     October  13  to  late  May. 

Amherst;  "Two  taken  at  Belchertown  ponds."  Berkshire:  "Acci- 
dental visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Probably  an  uncommon  irregular 
winter  visitor."  Cambridge:  Casual.  Cohasset:  "Rare  in  fall, 
occasional  in  winter."  Essex  County  :  "  Winter,  common."  Nantucket: 
"Rare."  Springfield:  "  Chiefly  an  uncommon  winter  visitor."  Temple- 
ton:  "Rare  transient  visitor  during  the  migrations."  Wellesley: 
"  Rather  rare  migrant." 

19.  Podilymbus  podiceps  (Linn,).      Pied-billed  Grebe. 
A  summer  resident,  breeding   locally   throughout  the   State,  at 

some  places  "  in  considerable  numbers  "   (Berkshire).     Common 
in  autumn  as  a  migrant,  but  less  so  in  the  spring. 
(Early  February.)      March  i  to  November. 

Amherst :"  Not  uncommon  in  Adams  and  Hadlej  Ponds,  and  the 
Conn.  River."  Berkshire  :  "  Summer  resident  of  very  local  distribution." 
Bristol    County :   "  Rather  uncommon   transient    visitor    to    the    ponds." 


Annotated  List   of   Species  21 

Brookline  :  Formerly  not  uncommon.  Cambridge  :  Transient  visitant 
in  April ;  very  common  Sept.  to  Nov. ;  breeds  in  one  locality.  Cohasset : 
"Abundant  fall  migrant,  common  in  winter  and  spring."  Dedham: 
"  Common  in  the  fall."  Essex  County:  "Fall  and  winter.  Common." 
Springfield:  "  Rare  summer  resident,"  and  common  migrant.  Temple- 
ton  :  Common  during  fall  migrations.  Wellesley  :  "Common  migrant 
especially  in  fall." 

20.  Gavia  lumme  (Gunn.).     Red-throated  Loon. 

A  not  uncommon  winter  visitant  off  the  coast ;  more  common 
as  a  migrant  in  spring  and  autumn.  Casual  inland.  Adult  birds  are 
rarely  seen  on  our  coast. 

October  i  to  April  8  (July  2), 

Bristol  County  :  "An  uncommon  winter  visitant  along  the  coast.  Com- 
mon on  migrations."  Cambridge:  One  instance.  Cohasset:  "Com- 
mon fall  migrant,  and  winter  resident."  Essex  County  :  "Winter.  Young, 
common.  Adults,  rare."  Ipswich  :  Common  in  fall.  Nantucket  :  "  Com- 
mon." Springfield  :  "  Rare  spring  and  fall  visitor."  W^ellesley  :  "  Mi- 
grant, rare." 

Note:  Gavia  arf tea  CLinn.).  Black-throated  Loon.  Not  positively' 
known  to  occur  in  the  State,  although  young  birds  supposedly  of  this 
species  are  variously  recorded. 

21.  Gavia  imber  (Gunn.).     Loon. 

xA  spring  and  autumn  migrant  throughout  the  State  on  rivers  and 
lakes,  and  abundant  as  a  winter  resident  off  the  coast,  where  bar- 
ren or  crippled  birds  are  found  in  summer.  Has  been  recorded 
as  late  as  1889,  as  breeding  in  Ballou's,  Otter  River,  aAd  Well- 
ington's Reservoirs,  and  other  large  ponds  in  Winchendon. 

Amherst:  "One  taken  at  Adams  Pond"  [about  1870].  Berkshire: 
"Transient  visitant  in  the  spring  and  autumn."  Brookline  :  One  taken 
on  Reservoir.  Cambridge:  Not  common  transient  visitant.  Cohas- 
set:  "Abundant  fall  migrant.  Common  in  winter  and  spring."  Essex 
County:  "  Spring  and  autumn,  and  occasionally  in  the  winter."  Ded- 
ham  :  "Occasionally  seen."  Ipswich:  Common  in  fall  and  winter. 
Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield  ;  "Not  uncommon  spring  and  fall 
visitor."     Templeton  :  "Breeds."     Wellesley  :"  Migrant." 

22.  Oceanodroma  leucorrhoa  (Vieill.).     Leach's  Petrel. 
A  common  summer    and  autumn  visitant  off  the  coast.     One 

June  record  from  Martha's  Vineyard' Island.       Occasional  inland. 
(June  15)    September  i  to  October  8. 


22  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

Berkshire:  One  instance,  probably  this  species.  Bristol  County  :  One 
inland  record.  Cambridge  :  Accidental  visitant.  One  instance,  October. 
Cohasset:  "Common  in  September  and  October."  Essex  County: 
Mentioned.  Ipswich:  Several  instances.  Springfield:  "Very  rare  visitor." 
Several  instances.     Wellesley  :  "  Accidental." 

23.  Oceanites  oceanicus  (Kuh].).     Wilson's  Petrel: 
A  common  visitant  off  the  coast  in  summer. 

June  17  to  first  week  of  September. 

Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  summer  visitant  along  the  coast." 
Cohasset:  "Summer;  rather  common."  Essex  County:  "Common." 
Ipswich  :  "  Seen  rarely  off  the  beach."     Nantucket:   "  Common." 

Note:  Pelagodroma  marina  (Lath.).     White-faced  Petrel. 

One  was  captured  on  September  2,  1885,  on  board  the  U.  S.  Fish  Com- 
mission Steamer,  "Albatross"  in  Lat.  40^34'  18"  N.,  66° 09'  W.,  which  is 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  off  the  coast,  and  the  specimen  can  hardly  there- 
fore be  considered  as  a  Massachusetts  bird,  though  included  in  Dr. 
J.  A.  Allen's  1886  list.i 

24.  Puffinus  gravis  (O'Reilly).     Greater  Shearwater. 

A  common  visitant  off  the  coast  in  the  summer,  autumn,  and 
early  winter.     Accidental  inland. 

(June)  August  16  to  December  31. 
Wellesley:  "Accidental    inland."     August   10,    1887,  correct  date,  not 
November. 

25.  Puffinus  borealis  Cory.     Cory's  Shearwater. 

A  not  uncommon  late  summer  and  autumn  visitant  off  the  coast. 
An  unusual. flight  of  these  birds  occurred  in  the  autumn  of   1886.^ 

August  2  to  the  first  of  November. 

Nantucket:  "  Fairly  common  some  years."  Bristol  County:  "  Occurred 
abundantly  in  Buzzards  Bay  during  fall  of  1886." 

Note:  Puffinus  puffinus    (Briinn.).      Manx  Shearwater. 

Included  in  Putnam's  List,  1856,  on  the  strength  of  a  skull  in  the 
Essex  Institute  Collection  taken  from  a  bird  killed  in  Salem  Harbor, 
August  13,  1855.  (p.  225.)  As  Prof.  Putnam  cannot  at  this  time  remember 
anything  in  regard  to  the  record,  and  as  the  skull  is  not  to  be  found,  the 
species  is  not  here  enumerated. 

i  Ridgway  ;    Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1885,  pp.  386,  387. 
2  Baird ;    Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1887,  pp.  71,  72. 


Annotated  List   of    Species  22 

26.  Puffinus  fuliginosus  Strickland.     Sooty   Shearwater. 
A  common  visitant  to  the  coast  in  summer  and  autumn,  prob- 
ably rarely  wintering. 

March.     July  4  to  September  3. 

Bristol  County:  "  A  few  occurred  in  Buzzards  Bay  during  fall  of  1886." 
Nantucket:  Once  noted. 

Note:    Fulmarus glacialis  (Liinn.).     Fulmar. 

Accidental,  the  only  record  (and  this  of  a  bird  taken  too  far  off  the  coast 
to  be  enumerated  as  a  Massachusetts  specimen)  is  as  follows  :  "  Early  in 
November  last  [1878]  I  saw  a  living  specimen  of  this  bird  in  the  yard  of 
Mr.  Geo.  O.  Welch,  to  whom  it  had  been  sent  for  mounting,  and  I  subse- 
quently learned  from  Mr.  Milner,  Prof.  Baird's  assistant,  that  it  had  been 
taken  by  Capt.  Wm.  Sweet  of  the  fishing  schooner,  Grace  C.  Hadley,  Oct. 
28,  1878,  by  a  cod-hook  on  the  eastern  part  of  George's  Bank."  '  This 
specimen  is  now  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum. 

27.  Alca  torda  Linn.     Razor-billed  Auk. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant  along  the  coast,  sometimes  not  un- 
common. 

November  i  to  April  15. 

Cohasset :  "  Common  off  shore  in  fall  and  winter."  Nantucket : 
"  Scarce." 

28.  Alle  alle  (Linn.).     Little  Auk. 

An  irregular,  but  often  not  uncommon  winter  visitant  off  the 
coast.     Casual  inland  whither  it  is  driven  by  storms. 

September.     November  8  to  May  i. 

Amherst:  "  Belchertown  ponds;  winter  of  1872  many  were  blown  in- 
land." Bristol  County  :  "  One  record  at  Attleboro."  Brookline  :  "  One 
found  dead  about  1859  to  '60."  Cambridge  :  [Common  in  1881.  Forest 
and  Stream,  Vol.  VII,  No.  14,  p.  212].  Cohasset:  "  Rather  rare  in  fall 
and  winter.  Occasionally  blown  ashore  in  great  numbers."  Dedham  : 
"Large  flocks  driven  inland  in  September,  1872."  Essex  County:  "  Win- 
ter. Common  in  some,  and  rare  in  other  winters."  Ipswich:  Common 
in  1871.  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  VII,  No.  14,  p.  212.  Springfield:  "Ac- 
cidental winter  visitor."     \A^ellesley  :  Occasional  after  storms. 

Note:    Utia  troile  {L,\nx\.).     Murre. 

Said  to  be  a  rare  winter  visitor  to  the  coast,  but  we  believe  all  of  the 
Murre  records  given  as  Ufia  troile  are  referable  to  Uria  lomvia,  and  after 
examining  a  large  series  of   specimens  from  the  State  we  have  yet  to  see 

1  Brewer;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1S79,  P-  64. 


24 


Birds  of   Massachusetts 


a  Massachusetts  specimen,!  although,  as  there  are  undoubted  Maine  records 
it  is  not  unlikely  it  may  rarely  occur.  One  (No.  8924)  from  Hudson,  in  the 
mounted  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  labellecl  U. 
troile    is    without    question    U.    lomvia. 

29.  Uria  lomvia  (Linn.).     Brunnich's  Murre. 

A  "common  winter  visitant  along  the  coast,"  accidental  inland. 
Fully  twenty  birds  were  taken  inland  in  the  Southern  New  England 
States  during  the  last  week  of  November,  1899,  and  curiously 
enough  this  flight  did  not  seem  to  be  caused  by  any  heavy  storm. 
Evidence  is  accumulating  to  show  that  there  is  a  somewhat  regular 
migration  across  Southern  New  England  from  the  Maine  coast  to 
Long  Island  Sound. 

Berkshire  :    "  Accidental    visitant."     Three    records.     Bristol    County  : 
"Winter    visitant.       One  record."       Brookline :    Accidental.      Cohasset: 
"  Rather  rare  in  spring  and  fall."      Essex  County  :    "  Winter.     Not  com- 
mon."     Ipswich:  One  record.       Nantucket:  "Common."      Springfield 
"A  number  recorded." 

30.  Cepphus  grylle  (Linn.).     Black  Guillemot. 

A  not  uncommon  winter  visitant  off  the  coast,  but  to  the  south 
of  Cape  Cod  it  is  rare. 

November  5  to  April  11.      (May.) 

Bristol  County  :  "  One  taken  on  the  Taunton  River."  Cohasset :  "  Fairly 
common  in  fall  and  winter."  Essex  County :  "  Winter.  Common." 
Nantucket :    "  Scarce." 

Note  :   Cepphus  mandtii  (Licht.).     Mandt's  Guillemot. 

Has  been  accorded  to  the  State  as  a  rare  winter  visitant  off  the  coast  in 
Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  1886  list ;  but  we  know  of  no  specimens  ever  having  been 
taken  in  the  State,  even  the  one  Maine  record  being  now  expunged. 

Note:    Simorrhynchus  cristatellus  {Y*^\\.).     Crested  Auklet. 

The  following  is  of  interest;  but  the  evidence  is  hardly  sufficient  to 
warrant  enumeration:  "While  on  a  recent  collecting  trip  to  Chatham, 
Mass.,  I  was  asked  bv  Mr.  A.  W.  Baker,  an  intelligent  and  trustworthy 
gunner  and  fisherman  of  that  place,  to  give  him  the  name  of  a  bird  killed 
at  Chatham  during  the  winter  of  i884-'85,  which  he  described  as  being 
very  much  like  a  little  Auk  or  Dovekie  in  form  and  color,  though  a  little 
larger,  and  having  a  tuft  of  narrow,  pointed  feathers  on  the  front  of  the 
head,  curving  upward  and  forward.     From  his  minute  description  of  the 

1  Brewster;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1882,  p.  251. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  25 

oird  it  was  evidently  one  of  the  Little  Crested  Auks,  apparently  Simor- 
hynchus  cristatelhis  —  a  bird  he  had  otherwise  never  seen  or  heard  of,  but 
which  he  very  accurately  described.  That  the  bird  was  one  of  the  little 
Crested  Auks  there  can  be  no  doubt."  J.  A.  Allen  ;  Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  4» 
Oct.,  1885,  p.  338. 

31.  Fratercula  arctica  (Linn.).     Puffin. 

An  uncommon  winter  visitant  to  the  coast.  The  only  pre- 
served Massachusetts  specimen  we  know  of  is  one  from  Cohasset 
from  the  Collection  of  Matthew  Luce,  Jr.,  now  in  the  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology  (No.  36021). 

[November]. to  [March].* 
Cohasset:  One  instance.     Essex  County :    "Winter.     Rare." 

32.  Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  (Gmel.) .  Black 
Tern. 

A  not  uncommon  summer  visitant  and  autumn  migrant.  Casual 
inland. 

June  10  to  September  26. 

Ipswich  :  Three  instances.  Nantucket:  "  Not  very  abundant,  August 
usually."     Wellesley  :  "  Casual." 

33.  Gelochelidon  nilotica  (Hasselq.).    Gull-billed  Tern. 
A    rare    straggler   from    the    south.       There    is    One    record  : 

Ipswich,  one  taken  in  September,  187 1,  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard, 
and  now  in   Mr.   William  Brewster's  collection.-^ 

34.  Sterna  caspia  Pallas.     Caspian  Tern. 

An  irregular  and  uncommon  visitant  along  the  coast.  The 
records  are :  Chatham,  quite  numerous  in  the  first  week  of 
May,  1875,  and  fairly  numerous  in  August  and  September,  1878, 
and  also  observed  at  various  points  from  Ipswich  (at  this  latter 
locality  a  flock  of  about  six  was  seen,  one  of  which  was  secured, 
September  15,  187 1)    to  Nantucket-,'^  Boston    Harbour^    a    young 


*  Dates  in  brackets  are   approximated  from    other  New    England  sources 
where  actual  Massachusetts  dates  are  unavailable. 

1  Brewster;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  5,  May,  1872,  p.  306. 

*  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1875,  PP-  M,  15. 


26  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

specimen  taken  ;^  Salem^  female  shot  in  May  (?)  1885;^  this 
specimen  is  probably  the  same  as  that  labelled  "  Lynn  "  in  the 
collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.  Marshjield, 
two  were  shot  September  26,  1891,  one  of  which  was  a  young 
of  the  year;^   Nantucket,  two  females  taken  about   September  20, 

1893.' 

35.  Sterna  forsteri  Nutt."     Forster's  Tern. 

A  rare  autumn  visitant  along  the  coast.  The  records  are : 
Ipswich^  one  taken  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  September,  1870;^ 
Coast,  two  or  three  young  known  to  have  occurred  "  within  a  year," 
i.  e.^  about  1872;^  Chatham,  "a  number"  seen  by  Dr.  J.  A. 
Allen  in  August,  1885  ;'  Monomoy  Island,  one  in  young  plumage 
taken  October  2,  1888,  by  John  C.  Cahoon.^ 

36.  Sterna  hirundo  Linn.     Common  Tern. 

An  abundant  local  summer  resident  along  the  coast.  Casual 
inland.* 

(February  6)  May  i  to  October  24  (November  14). 
Berkshire:  Occasional.  Bristol  County:  "A  common  summer  resident 
occurring  up  the  rivers  in  fall."  Cambridge  :  Casual  in  September.  Co- 
hasset :  "  Rather  common  in  early  autumn."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer 
visitant.  Abundant "  [formerly].  Ipswich:  "Abundant  in  summer  after 
July."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "Very  rare."  One  in- 
stance. Templeton :  "  Rare  straggler."  Wellesley :  "Casual  on  lakes 
in  summer." 

'  Stearns  &  Coues;  New  Eng.  Bird  Life,  1883,  pt.  II,  p.  356. 

2  X.  Y.  Z. ;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXIV,  May  28,  1885,  p.  347. 

^Editor;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1891,  p.  158. 

'*  Mackay;  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  No.  i',  Jan.,  1894,  p.  85. 

=  Brewster;  Amer,  Nat.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  5,  May,  1872,  p.  306. 

^Purdie;  ibid.,  Vol.  VII,  No.  11,  Nov.,  1873,  P-  693. 

''Allen;  Revised  List  Birds  Mass.,  1886,  p.  227. 

«Cahoon;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  Feb.,  1889,  p.  28. 

*  Mackay;  The  Terns  of  Muskeget,  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  r,  Jan.,  1895,  PP- 
32-48;  part  II,  tbid.^\o\.  XIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1896,  pp.  47-55;  part  III, 
tbid.y  Vol.  XIV,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1897,  pp.  383-390 ;  part  IV,  ibid.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  2^ 
Apr.,  1898,  pp.  268-272.  The  Terns  of  Penekese  Island,  ibid.,  Vol.  XIV,  No. 
3,  July,  1897,  pp.  278-284.     The  Terns  of  Muskeget  and  Penekese,  ibid..  Vol. 

XVI,  No.  3,  July,   1899,  pp.  259-266.     Howe;    The  Terns  of the  Wee- 

pecket  Islands,  ibid.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1897,  pp.  203-205. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  27 

37.  Sterna  paradissea  Briinn.     Arctic  Tern. 

An  uncommon  local  summer  resident  along  the  coast.  Casual 
inland.*     Bred  in  Beverley  in  1846,  and  at  Ipswich  in  1869. 

May  to  October. 

Essex  County  :  "Summer  visitant.  flare."  Ipswich  :  Formerly 
bred.  Nantucket :  "  Not  very  common."  Wellesley  :  "Casual  inland." 
Two  fall  specimens  at  Lake  Cochituate. 

38.  Sterna  dougalli  Montag.     Roseate  Tern. 

A  common  local  summer  resident  along  the  coast."*^  Bred  on 
islands  in  Beverley  Harbour  in  1846,  and  at  Ipswich  in  1869. 

May  I  to  October  4. 

Bristol  County  :  "Common  summer  resident."  Cohasset :  "One  in- 
stance." Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Rare."  Ipswich:  Formerly 
bred.     Nantucket :  "  Common." 

39.  Sterna  sandvicensis  acuflavida  (Cabot).  Cabot's 
Tern. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  Two  records :  Chatham^  an 
immature  bird  taken,  August,  1865;^  Mono7noy  Island^  near 
Chatham,  a  young  bird  taken  October  2,  1888,  by  J.  C.  Cahoon.^ 

40.  Sterna  maxima  Bodd.     Royal  Tern. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  Two  records  exist :  Nantucket^  a 
pair  were  taken  by  Messrs. William  Brewster  and  C.  J.  Maynard, 
July  I,  1874.'  Mr.  Maynard  writes  that  they  were  "evidently 
breeding."      Chatham,  a  female  was  taken  July   29,  li 


41.    Sterna  fuliginosa  Gmel.     Sooty  Tern. 

Accidental  from  the  South.  The  records  are :  Lawrence,  on 
the  Merrimack  River,  an  adult  male  taken  October  29,  1876  ;  ^ 
Williamstowfi,  near  the  Hoosac  River,  September  [1876]  ;  ^  and 
Chatham,  three  seen  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Jeffries,  September,  1877."^ 

*  See  references  under  Sterna  hinuido. 

1  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  644,  p.  45  of  separate. 

2  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1887,  pp.  66,  67. 

^  Brewster;  Amer.  Sportsman,  Vol.  V,  Jan.  16,  1875,  p.  249. 

*  Editor;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  7,  July,  1890,  p.  no. 

'  Deane;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  27. 
^Tenney ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  XI,  No.  4,  Apr.,  1877,  p.  243. 
'Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XIX,  1878,  p.  308. 


28  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

42.  Sterna  antillarum  (Less.).     Least  Tern. 

A  not  uncommon  summer  resident  on  the  coast."*  It  breeds  on 
Martha's  Vineyard,  Muskeget  Island,  Cape  Cod  and  formerly  on 
Penekese  Island. 

Cohasset :  "  One  instance."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Not 
common."      Ipswich:  Formerly  bred.      Nantucket:   "Fairly    common." 

43.  Rynchops  nigra  Linn.     Black  Skimmer. 

A  very  rare  and  irregular  summer  visitant  along  the  coast. 
Mr.  William  Brewster  was  informed  by  a  Nantucket  fisherman 
that  it  bred  on  Muskeget  Island  about  1830.  The  records 
are:  Cape  Cod,  "  flocks,"  July,  1605  ;  ^  Sandwich,  three  specimens 
August  19,  1879;^  Falmouth,  Wood's  Holl,  a  young  bird  taken 
August  19,  1879,  by  John  F.  Carlton*  and  now  in  the  collection 
of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History ;  Boston  Harbour^  Pe- 
tock's  Island,  one  was  taken  August  20,  1879.^  I^  addition  to 
these,  there  is  a  second  specimen  in  the  collection  of  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History,  labelled  Falmouth. 

44.  Xema  sabinii  (Sab.).     Sabine's  Gull. 

Accidental  from  the  far  north.  The  records  are  :  Boston  Harbour., 
an  immature  specimen  was  taken  on  September  27,  1874,  by  Mr. 
H.  W.  Diamond.*  This  bird  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr. 
William  Brewster.  Cape  Cod,  an  immature  bird  was  taken  in 
1888;^  near  North  Truro,  a  fine  adult  female  was  shot  August 
21,  1889.6 

45.  Larus  Philadelphia  (Ord).     Bonaparte's  Gull. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  an  uncommon  win- 
ter resident  :    occasional  inland. 

May  10  to  June  9  ;  July  31  to  November  25.     Winter. 

*  See  references  under  Sterna  hirjindo. 

^  Voyages  of  Samuel  de  Champlain  ;  1604-1610,  ed.  1878,  Vol.  II,  p.  87  :  See 
Purdie;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1882,  p.  125. 

2  Deane;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1879,  p.  243. 

3  Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  May  7,  1879,  P-  277  in  foot- 
note. 

''Brewster;  Amer.  Sportsman,  Vol.  V,  Mar.  13,  1875,  P-  Zl'^- 
^Editor;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  6,  June,  1889,  p.  95. 
6  Miller;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  p.  227. 


Annotated  List  of  Species 


29 


Berkshire:  "Rare  transient  visitant  in  the  spring  and  autumn." 
Bristol  County:  "Common  on  migrations."  Cohasset :  "Common  in 
fall."  Essex  County  :  "  September  to  May.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Com- 
mon in  August  and  September."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield: 
"  Rare  visitor."     Wellesley  :  "  Migrant.     Casual  on  lakes." 

46.  Larus  atricilla  Linn.     Laughing  Gull. 

A  not  uncommon  local  summer  resident,  breeding  on  Muskeget 
Island  ;  ^    casual  island. 

May  8  to  October  i. 

Essex  County:  "Autumn.  Rare."  Ipswich:  Recorded.  Nantucket: 
*'  Common." 

47.  Larus  marinus  Linn,     Black-backed  Gull. 

A  common  winter  resident  on  the  coast,  occasionally  visiting 
the  ponds,  creeks  and  rivers  a  short  distance  inland.  Birds  pre- 
sumably barren  remain  throughout  the  summer. 

Late  August  to  May  27  ;    July  and  August. 

Bristol  County:  "Rather  common  winter  visitant  off  the  coast."  Cam- 
bridge :  [Occasional  on  Fresh  Pond.]  Cohasset  :  "Common  in  fall  and 
winter,  rare  in  spring."  Essex  County  :  "  Winter.  Not  abundant." 
Ipswich  :  "  Common  throughout  the  fall  and  winter."  Nantucket : 
"Common." 

48.  Larus  argentatus  Briinn.     Herring  Gull. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  winter  resident 
along  the  coast.  Not  uncommon  on  inland  bodies  of  water.  In 
summer,  it  is  now  known  on  our  coast  only  in  flocks  of  presumably 
barren  birds.  It  is  not  improbable  that  it  formerly  bred  in  the 
State,  the  only  record,  however, —  and  this,  we  believe,  open  to 
question  —  is  of  a  pair  said  to  have  nested  on  the  middle  We[e]- 
pecket  Island,  Buzzards  Bay,  in  the  summer  of  1888.^ 

October  6  to  May  i ;    Summer. 

Amherst :  "  A  few  taken  at  Belchertown  Ponds."  Berkshire  :  Extreme- 
ly rare.  Bristol  County:  "Abundant  winter  visitant."  Brookline  : 
"Occasionally  seen  flying  over."  Cambridge  :  Abundant  winter  visitant. 
Cohasset  :  "Abundant  in  fall,  winter  and  spring.  Barren  birds  stay  all 
summer."  Dedham  :  "  One  seen  flying  over."  Essex  County  :  "  Winter. 
Common."     Ipswich:  "  Abundant  resident."     Nantucket:  "Common." 

iMackay;  Auk,  Vol.  X,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1893,  pp.  333-336. 
^  Mackay ;  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  3,  July,  1892,  p.  226. 


^O  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

Springfield:  "  Common  winter  visitant."    Wellesley  :  Frequent  in  spring 
and  fall. 

49.  Larus  delawarensis  Ord.     Ring-billed  Gull. 
A  not  uncommon  migrant  in  spring  and  autumn. 
July  31  to  October  19  ;    June. 

Essex  County  :  "Winter.  Common."  [?]  Ipswich:  "  Not  uncommon 
migrant."     Wellesley  :  "Casual  migrant."     Lake  Cochituate. 

Note:  Larus  hi;tilieut  Brewst.  Kumlien's  Gull.  Probably  a  not  un- 
common winter  visitant. 

50.  Larus  glaucus  Brilnn.     Glaucous  Gull. 
A  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north. 
November  30  to  April  i. 

51.  Larus  leucopterus  Faber.     Iceland  Gull. 

A  very  rare  winter  visitant  to  the  coast.  There  are  but  two 
definite  records  :  Boston  Milldam,  "  an  immature  specimen  [was 
procured]  on  the  31st  of  January,  1880.  It  was  in  company  with 
another  of  the  same  species  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  Herring 
Gulls."  ^  Near  Boston,  an  immature  specimen  was  taken  in  No- 
vember, 1882.^  Peabody  in  his  list  (1839,  p.  381)  inserts  it  "  on 
the  authority  of  Dr.  [T.  M.]  Brewer  who  obtained  it  near  Bos- 
ton." 

Essex  County:  "Winter.     Common."     [An  evident  error.] 

52.  Pagophila  alba  (Gunn.).     Ivory  Gull. 

Accidental  from  the  far  north :  there  is  but  one  record  :  Mon- 
omoy  Island,  one  was  shot  after  a  northwest  blow,  December  i , 
1886,  by  one  of  the  men  of  the  Life  Saving  Station.' 

53.  Rissa  tridactyla  (Linn.).     Kittiwake  Gull. 

A  common  winter  resident  off  the  coast ;  casual  inland. 
October  2  to  March  i. 

Bristol  County  :  "  Uncommon  winter  visitant  off  the  coast;  common  in 
the  fall."     Cohasset :   "Common    in   fall   and   winter."     Essex  County  : 

1  Bangs;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1881,  p.  124. 
=  Cory;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Vil,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1882,  p.  60. 
3  Cahoon ;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XII,  No.  12,  Dec,  1887,  p.  206. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  ^I 

"Winter.  Common."  Ipswich:  "A  few"  in  fall  and  winter.  Nan- 
tucket: "Common."  Templeton  :  "A  rare  straggler  from  th^  coast, 
after  the  prevalence  of  easterly  storms." 

54.  Megalestris  skua  (Briinn.).     Skua. 

A  pelagic  species,  casual  off  the  coast  in  late  summer  and 
autumn.  There  are  but  two  records  ;  the  specimen  taken  over 
one  hundred  miles  off  shore  was  too  far  from  land  to  be  really 
included  as  a  Massachusetts  bird,  /.  e.  George's  [Banks],  one 
was  "  captured  alive  by  means  of  a  hook,"  and  was  kept  alive  on 
a  fishing  vessel.  This  bird  was  found  dead  on  the  i8th  of  July 
[1878]  by  one  of  Prof.  Baird's  party  at  the  Fort  Wharf,  Glouces- 
ter.^ The  specimen  is  now  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum.  Nan- 
tucket Shoals,  two  were  seen  on  October  11,  1883  ;  ^  Polluck  Rip, 
a  female  was  taken  September  10,  1884,  by  N.  S.  Goss.* 

55.  Stercorarius  pomarinus  (Temm.).     Pomarine  Jaeger. 
A    not    uncommon   spring   and    autumn    visitant  off  the  coast, 

occurring  rarely  in  summer,  A  female  was  taken  on  the  Merri- 
mack River,  July  5,  1889.* 

May  23  ;  July  5  to  [October  30]. 

Bristol  County:   "Abundant  in  Buzzards  Bay  fall  of  1886." 

56.  Stercorarius  longicaudus  Vieill.    Long-tailed  Jaeger. 
A  rare  migrant  off  the  coast    in    spring   and  autumn,  rare    in 

winter. 

Nantucket  :  "  Occasional." 

57.  Stercorarius  parasiticus   (Linn.).     Parasitic  Jaeger. 
A  fairly  common  visitant  to  the  coast  in  spring,   summer   and 

autumn.     Rare  in  winter. 

May  31  to  (July  15)  ;  July  to  September  25;  January  and 
February. 

Bristol  County  :  "  Abundant  in  Buzzards  Bay  fall  of  1886."  Cohasset : 
"Not  uncommon  in  fall  —  rare  in  winter."  Essex  County:  "Winter. 
Rare." 

1  Brewer  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1878,  p.  188. 

*  Extract  Ann.  Rep.  Comm.  Fish  and  Fisheries,  1882,  pp.  323,  324. 
3 Goss;  Auk,  Vol.1,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1884,  p.  395. 

*  Editor;  0.&  0.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  11,  Nov.,  1889,  p.  176. 


32  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

58.  Arenaria  interpres  (Linn.).     Turnstone. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 
Casual  inland. 

May  I  to  26  ;    (June  24)  July  27  to  September  15. 

Bristol  County  :  "  Rather  common  transient  visitant  along  coast." 
Cohasset :  "Common  in  fall,  rare  in  spring."  Essex  County:  "  Last  of 
May  and  August.  Rather  rare."  Ipswich  :  "Rather  common  transient 
visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springiield  :  "Rare  autumn  visi- 
tor." 

59.  Hsematopus  palliatus  Temm.  American  Oyster- 
catcher. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are :  Boston  Har- 
bour^ one  was  shot  from  a  flock,  prior  to  the  summer  of  1814  ;  -^ 
Marshfield^  a  pair  were  procured  by  Daniel  Webster  and  presented 
to  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History ;  ^  Chaihain^  one  was 
shot  in  April,  1885,  at  Monomoy  Island,  by  Alonzo  Nye ;  3 
Chatha?n,  an  adult  male  and  a  female,  probably  its  mate,  shot 
August  [20],  1899,  by  Mr.  Charles  A.  Hardy.^ 

60.  Squatarola  squatarola  (Linn.).  Black-bellied  Plover. 
A    rather    common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 

Casual  inland. "^ 

April  15  to  May  26  (June  18);  July  8  to  November  16  (De- 
cember) . 

Bristol  County:  "Rather  common  transient  visitant."  Cohasset: 
"Rather  common  in  spring  and  fall."  Dedham  :  Recorded.  Essex 
County:  "May,  and  August  to  November.  Common."  Ipswich: 
*'  Common  transient  visitant."  Nantucket  :  "Common."  Springfield  : 
*'  Accidental  visitor."     June. 

61.  Charadrius  dominicus  Miill.  American  Golden 
Plover. 

Formerly  a  rare  spring,  but  common  autumn  migrant :  now  rare 
in  the  autumn.     Casual  inland.t 

1  Wilson  ;  Amer.  Orn.,  Vol.  VIII,  1814,  p.  17. 
^  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway  ;  Water  Birds,  Vol.  I,  1874,  p.  1 13. 
3  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  II,   No.  4,  Oct.,  1885,  p.  384,  and  Cahoon  ;  O.  &  O., 
Vol.  X,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1885,  p.  160. 

^Brewster  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  136. 
*  Mackay;  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1892,  pp.  143-152. 
t  Mackay;  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1891,  pp.  17-24. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  7  7 

May  ;  August  12  to  October  2,7  (November  19). 

Bristol  County  :  "Uncommon  transient  visitant."  Cohasset:  "Rare 
in  fall."  Dedham  :  Recorded.  Essex  County  :  "  May,  and  August  to 
November.  Abundant."  Ipswich  :  "  Not  uncommon  transient  visitant.'* 
Nantucket :  "  Formerly  abundant,  now  rare."  Springfield  :  "  Rare  au- 
tumn visitor."  Templeton  :  "Rare  migrant."  Wellesley  :  "Occasional 
on  lake  shores,  marshes,  etc." 

62.  iEgialitis  wilsoni  (Ord).     Wilson's  Plover. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     Although  early  writers  include  this 

species  as  **  abundant  at  Nahant  in  August,  1838  "  on  the 
authority  of  Dr.  Brewer,  the  latter  refuted  the  statement.  The 
only  tenable  record  is  :  Gernet  Ft.,  [not  in  Conn,  as  originally  pub- 
lished] one  was  shot  on  August  22,  1877,  by  Mr.  Arthur  S. 
Fiske.i 

63.  iEgialitis  vocifera  (Linn.).     Killdeer  Plovek. 

An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  a  rare  local 
summer  resident,  breeding  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  Taunton  and 
Springfield.  A  very  unusual  flight  occurred  along  the  New  Eng- 
land coast  in  November,  1888,  when  numbers  were  blown  north- 
ward by  a  hurricane.  Many  of  these  birds  remained  throughout 
the  winter  that  season. 

March  i  to  November  28. 

Amherst :  "  Occasional,  by  the  Connecticut,  but  very  rare  in  Am- 
herst." Berkshire  :  "  Formerly  common,  now  very  rare."  Bristol 
County  :  "  Uncommon  transient  visitant.  Rare  summer  visitant."  Cam- 
bridge :  "  Accidental  visitant.  Two  instances,  September."  Cohasset  : 
"  Very  rare  or  accidental  in  fall."  Dedham  :  "Taken  at  West  Dedham." 
Essex  County  :  "April  and  August.  Rare."  Ipswich  :  "  Rare."  Nan- 
tucket :  "  Formerly  abundant,  now  rare."  Springfield  :  "  A  rare  summer 
resident."  Com.mon  August,  1899.  Wellesley  :  "  Rare  in  spring  and 
fall." 

64.  .i^gialitis  semipalmata  Bonap.  Semipalmated  Plover. 
A  common  spring  and  abundant  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 

Occasional  inland. 

Last  of  April  to  June  ;  July  12  to  October  28. 

Berkshire:  "Rare  transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Common 
transient    visitant."     Brookline  :    "  One    record,    August."     Cambridge  : 

1  Coues;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1882,  pp.  58-59. 


34 


Birds   of  Massachusetts 


Rare  in  spring,  sometimes  common  in  August  and  September.  Cohas- 
set :  "  Abundant  in  fall,  common  in  spring."  Essex  County  :  "Abun- 
dant." Ipswich  :  "  Abundant  transient  visitant."  Nantucket  :  "  Com- 
mon." Springfield:  "Accidental  visitor.""  One  instance.  Wellesley : 
"  Occasional  inland  in  fall  on  lake  shores." 

65.  iEgialitis  meloda  (Ord).     Piping  Plover. 

A  not  uncommon  summer  resident  and  migrant  along  the 
coast.     Casual  inland. 

(March  26)  April  8  to  August  10. 
Amherst:  One  instance.  May.  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient 
visitant  along  coast.  A  few  breed."  Cohasset  :  "  Rather  common  in 
late  summer."  Essex  County :  "  Summer  visitant.  Rare."  Ipswich:  A 
few  summer.  Breeds  on  sand  dunes.  Nantucket :  "  Common."  Welles- 
ley:  "Sometimes  rather  common  in  fall  along  Lake  Cochituate." 
Springfield:    "  One  record  only."     Amherst. 

Note  :  ^-iLgtalitis  meloda  circicmcincta  Ridgw.  Belted  Piping  Plo- 
ver. 

Although  two  specimens  apparently  referable  to  this  subspecies  have 
been  taken  in  Massachusetts  (Marshfield,  April  20,  1896,*  and  East 
vSandwich,  April  5,  1884,  by  Dr.  Charles  W.  Townsend)  we  are  of 
the  opinion,  that,  as  both  are  males  and  spring  birds,  it  is  more  likely 
that  they  are  cases  of  individual  variation  of  ^^.  meloda,  rather  than  strag- 
glers from  the  far  west. 

66.  Himantopus  mexicanus  (Milll.).  Black-necked  Stilt. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     The   records    are  :    Massachusetts^ 

Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  "  gives  it,  on  the  authority  of  gunners  and 
others,"  as  occasionally  seen  along  the  sandy  beaches.^  Massa- 
chusetts^ two  specimens  seen  in  the  Boston  Market  by  Mr.  G.  A. 
Boardman,  which  were  taken  in  the  State. 3  There  is  also  a  speci- 
men in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology  labelled  from  Lynn  (No.  57039). 

67.  Recurvirostra  americana  (Linn.).     American  Avocet. 
Accidental  from   the   west.     The    records    are :  Natick,    Lake 

iBrackett;  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  3,  July,  1896,  p.  256. 
'  Maynard;    Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  143. 

^  Allen  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  638,  pp.  39,  40  of 
separate. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  'iC 

Cochituate,  one  example  taken  October  19,  1880;^  Lynn,  two 
were  shot  "  years  ago  on  Lynn  marsh  ;  "  -  Ipswich  Neck,  three 
shot  September  13,  1896,  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Clark.* 

68.  Numenius  longirostris  Wils.     Long-billed  Curlew. 
A  now  very  rare  or  even  accidental  migrant. 

July  20  to  October  18. 

Berkshire:  "  Accidental  visitant."  Dedham  :  Recorded.  Essex  County  : 
"  Rather  rare."     Nantucket:    "  Very  rare." 

69.  Numenius  hudsonicus  Lath.    Hudsonian  Curlew. 

A  rare  spring,  and  rather  uncommon  autumn  migrant  on  the 
coast.     Casual  inland. 

April  10  to  May  19  ;    (June  23)  July  14  to  October  i. 

BrookHne :  "One  instance.  May."  Cohasset:  "Rather  common  in 
early  autumn."'  Dedham:  Recorded.  Ipswich:  "  Not  common  transient 
visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "A  rare  migrant."  Two 
instances. 

70.  Numenius  borealis  (Forst.).     Esquimo  Curlew. 
Formerly  a  common  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast,  accidental  in 

spring.     Now  very  rare.* 

End  of  May;  July  15  to  October  i. 

Bristol  County:  "Two  records,  September  18  and  21."  Cohasset: 
"  Formerly  not  very  rare,  now  only  accidental."  Nantucket :  "  Formerly 
abundant,  now  scarce." 

71.  Limosa  hsemastica  (Linn.).    Hudsonian  Godwit. 

A  rare  spring,  and  irregular  but  common  autumn  migrant  on  the 
coast. 

April  29  to  May  25  ;  July  15  to  November  3. 

Bristol  County:  "One  instance,  September."  Dedham  :  "  Occasionally 
shot."  Essex  County  :  "  August  to  November.  Rare."  Ipswich  :  "  Two 
instances.  August  29  and  September  18."  Nantucket:  "Scarce."  Wel- 
lesley:    "Migrant." 

72.  Lrimosa  fedoa  (Linn.).     Marbled  Godwit. 
Formerly  a  rare,  and  now,   a  very    rare,   spring  and   autumn 

1  Purdie  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Om.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1881,  p.  123. 
*  Osgood  ;  Shooting  and  Fishing,  Vol.  IX,  No.  12,  Oct.  30,  1890,  p.  11. 
3  Kennard  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1897,  p.  212. 
*Mackay ;  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1892,  pp.  16-21.  / 


^6  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

migrant  on  the  coast.  Mr.  Fletcher  Osgood  was  informed  that 
"  back  in  the  '40's  probably  "  it  bred  "  now  and  then  on  the  Lynn 
marsh."  ^ 

May  20  ;     July  17  through  August. 

Dedham  :    "  One  instance."     Essex  County  :    "August.     Rare." 

73.    Macrorrhamphus  griseus  (Gmel).     Dowitcher. 

A  rather  uncommon  autumn,  but  rare  spring  migrant  on  the 
coast.     Occasional  inland.* 

(March  8)  May  i  to  June  i  ;    (June  18);  July  9  to  September  30. 

Bristol  County:  "  Kather  common  transient  visitant.'"  Cohasset : 
"Common  in  fall,  less  so  in  spring."  Dedham:  "  Occasionally  sliot." 
Essex  County  :  *' May  and  August.  Common."  Ipswich:  One  instance. 
August.  Nantucket:  "  Scarce."  Springfield  :  "  Rare  spring  and  autumn 
migrant."  Templeton:  "Rare  migrant."  Wellesley :  "Occasional, 
sometimes  not  very  uncommon  in  fall  on  lake  shores." 

"74.  Macrorrhamphus  griseus  scolopaceus  (Say).  Long- 
bulled  Dowitcher. 

A  rare  straggler  in  autumn  from  the  west."*^ 
August  29  to  November  3. 
Nantucket :   "  Scarce." 

75.  Micropalama  himantopus  (Bonap.) .    Stilt  Sandpiper. 
An  irregular,  but  not  uncommon  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 

Casual  inland. 

July  19  to  September  29. 

Cohasset  :  "  Rare  in  fall."  Ipswich  :  Recorded.  Nantucket:  "  Scarce." 
Wellesley  :    '*  Accidental  inland."     July  at  Needham. 

76.  Symphemia  semipalmata  (Gmel.).     Willet. 

A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant  along  the  coast.  It  undoubt- 
edly bred  formerly,  near  New  Bedford'^  and  on'Muskeget  Island. 3 
Occasional  inland. 

May  2  to  31  (June  15)  ;    July  8  to  last  of  September. 

1  Osgood;    Shooting  and  Fishing,  Vol.  IX,  No.  i,  Oct.  30,  1890,  p.  12. 
*  Howe;   Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  pp.  157-162. 

2  Audubon  ;   Birds  of  Amer.,  Vol.  V,  1842,  p.  324. 

^  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway  ;    Water  Birds,  Vol.  I,  1884,  p.  287. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  i^ 

Berkshire:  "  Accidental  visitant.  Williamstown,  one  record."  Bristol 
County:  "  LTncominon  transient  visitant."  Cohasset :  "Rare  in  fall." 
Dedham  :  Recorded.  Essex  County  :  "  August.  Rare."  Ipswich  : 
Occasional.  Nantucket :  "  Scarce."  Springfield :  "  Rare  spring  and 
autumn  visitor."  Wellesley :  "One  example,  Lake  Cochituate  in 
autumn." 

77.  Totanus  melanoleucus(Gmel.).  Greater  Yellow-legs. 
An  abundant  spring,  and  common  autumn  migrant.    According 

to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  "  a  few  linger  in  summer." 

April  4  to  May  29  ;  (June  15)  ;  July  8  to  November  12. 
Berkshire:  "Not  rare  transient  visitant  in  the  spring  and  autumn." 
Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient  visitant."  Cambridge  :  Common 
transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "  Common  in  autumn,  abundant  in  spring." 
Dedham:  "  Rather  common  migrant."  Essex  County  :  "  May,  and  Aug- 
ust to  the  middle  of  October."  Ipswich  :  "  Common  transient  visitant." 
Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "  A  common  spring  and  autumn 
visitant."  Templeton  :  "  A  rare  migrant.  Formerly  common."  Wel- 
lesley :    "  Occasional  on  lake  shores  in  autumn  and  spring  after  storms." 

78.  Totanus  flavipes  (Gmel.).     Lesser  Yellow-legs. 

An  uncommon  spring,  an  abundant  autumn  migrant.  ^>>/vn«>^ 

May  3  to  June  2  (June  15)  ;  July  6  to  September  29. 

Brookline  :  "  A  rare  migrant."  Cambridge :  "  Rare  in  May,  sometimes 
common  in  August  and  early  September."  Cohasset:  "Numerous 
in  fall,  common  in  spring."  Dedham :  "  Rather  common  migrant." 
Essex  County:  "May  and  August.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Common 
transient  visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "A  rare 
spring  and  autumn  visitor."  Templeton  :  "  A  rare  migrant."  Wellesley  : 
"  Frequently  taken  on  ponds  and  streams." 

79.  Helodromas  solitarius  (Wils.).     Solitary  Sandpiper. 
A  rather  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  especially  inland. 

"  Stragglers  sometimes  remain  in  summer,"  according  to  Dr.  J.  A. 
Allen. 

May  2  to  May  26  (June)  ;    July  20  to  the  last  of  October. 

Amherst:  "Uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire:  "  Common  transient  vis- 
itant."' Bristol  County :  "Rather  common  transient  visitant."  Brook- 
line:  "Common  migrant,  especially  in  spring."  Cambridge:  Common 
transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Rare  in  spring  and  autumn."  Dedham: 
"  Common  migrant."  Essex  County:  "  September  and  October.  Ratb.er 
rare."  Ipswich:  "  Two  or  three  seen  every  August."  Nantucket:  "Not 
abundant."     Springfield  :    "  Common  early  autumn  and  late  spring  vis- 


38 


Birds   of  Massachusetts 


itor."     Templeton:   "  Common  summer  resident."     [Doubtless  an  error]. 
Wellesley:    "Migrant." 

80.  Actitis  macularia  (Linn.).     Spotted  Sandpiper. 
A  very  common  summer  resident. 

April  19  to  October  5  (November  6). 

Amherst :"  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident."  Brook- 
line:  "A  not  uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge:  Common  summer 
resident.  Cohasset :  "Common  in  spring  and  fall;  a  few  breed." 
Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Nantucket:  "Common." 
Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Common 
in  summer."     Wellesley:  "  Common  summer  resident." 

81.  Pavoncella  pugnax  (Linn.).     Ruff. 

Accidental  from  tlie  Old  World.  The  records  are  :  Newbiiryport 
Marshes,  an  adult  female  taken  May  20,  187 1 ;  ^  Chatham^  a  young 
male  [female?]  shot  September  12,  1880,  as  per  label  on  the  speci- 
men which  is  now  in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Brookline  High 
School.^ 

82.  Bartramia  longicauda  (Bechst.).  Bartramian  Sand- 
piper. 

Formerly  a  not  uncommon  summer  resident,  but  now  occurring 
chiefly  as  an  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  breeding 
locally. 

April  10  to  October  i. 

Amherst :  "  A  rare  summer  resident,  not  uncommon  in  the  fall."  Berk- 
shire :  "  Transient  visitant  in  the  spring  and  autumn."  Bristol  County : 
"  Rather  common  transient  visitant."  Cambridge  :  Not  common  transient 
visitant.  Cohasset:  "One  instance."  Essex  County:  "April,  and  Au- 
gust to  October.  Not  abundant."  Ipswich  :"  Not  uncommon  transient 
visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "  Rather  rare  summer 
resident,  breeding  in  Russell  and  Blandford."  Templeton  :  "  Not  rare  in 
the  autumn."  [Breeds  at  Winchendon. — Brewster].  Wellesley:  "Scarce 
migrant." 

83.  Ereunetes  pusillus  (Linn.).   Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 

'  Brewster;   Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  5,  May,  1872,  p.  306. 
2  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  XV,  No.  10,  Oct.  7,  1880,  p.  186. 


Annotated    List   of   Species  'IQ 

A  common  spring  and  abundant  autumn  migrant.  Birds  pre- 
sumably barren  remain  on  the  coast  all  summer. 

May  I  to  May  25  ;  (June  25)  July  3  to  October  8. 
Berkshire:  "Transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant  tran- 
sient visitant."  Cambridge  :  Very  common  in  August  and  September. 
Cohasset :  "  Abundant  in  fall,  common  in  spring."  Essex  County :  "  May 
and  September.  Not  abundant."  Ipswich  :  "Abundant  transient  visit- 
ant, more  common  on  beach  tban  on  marshes."  Nantucket :  "  Common." 
Templeton  :    "Rare."     Wellesley:    "  Occasional  on  lake  shores." 

84.  Ereunetes  occidentalis  Lawr.  Western  Sandpiper. 

A  not  uncommon  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast  occurring  with 
flocks  of  jS".  pusillus. 

July  19  to  September  19. 
Nantucket:    "  Not  uncommon."  ' 

85.  Tryngites  subruficoUis  (Vieill.).  Buff-breasted  Sand- 
piper. 

A  rare  (spring)  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 
[Spring] ;  July  28  to  September  24. 

Essex  County:  "Autumn.  Very  rare."  Ipswich:  Three  instances. 
Nantucket :   "  Scarce." 

86.  Calidris  arenaria  (Linn.).  Sanderling. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast,  wintering 
occasionally  and  with  apparent  regularity  on  Muskeget  Island. 
Casual  inland.  Its  reported  nesting  at  Ipswich^  requires  confir- 
mation. 

May  19  to  June  3  ;  (June  24)  July  6  to  October  24  (December 
13)  ;  Winter. 

Bristol  County :  "  Common  transient  visitant  along  the  beaches." 
Cambridge:  Casual.  One  instance,  September.  Cohasset:  "Numerous 
in  fall."  Essex  County:  "  May,  and  August  to  November.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Common  transient  visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common." 
Springfield:  "Rare  autumn  visitor."  ^A^ellesley:  "  Migrant.  ...  occa- 
sional on  lake  shores  after  storms  in  fall." 

87.  Tringa  minutilla  Vieill.     Least  Sandpiper. 
A  common  spring  and  abundant  autumn  migrant. 
(April  18)  May  13  to  June  4  ;  July  4  to  October  13. 

1  Brown  ;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  9,  Sept.,  1892,  p.  140. 


40  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

Amherst:  "Occasional  in  the  spring  at  Adam's  Pond."  Berkshire: 
"  Transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant  transient  visitant.' 
Brookline  :  "A  not  uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge:  A  very  common 
transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  in  the  fall,  common  in  the 
spring."  Essex  County :  "  May  and  August.  Abundant."  Ipswich : 
"Abundant  transient  visitant,  more  common  on  marshes  than  on  beach." 
Nantucket:  ''Common."  Springfield:  "Common  spring  and  autumn 
visitor."  Templeton:  "Rare."  Wellesley:  "  Occasional  on  shores  of 
ponds  and  streams." 

88.  Tringa  maculata  Vieill.     Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

A  rare  spring  but  abundant  autumn  migrant,  possibly  winters 
accidentally. 

April  9  to  May  16  ;  July  20  to  November  11    (late  November). 

Berkshire:  "Transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Common  tran- 
sient visitant."  Cambridge:  Irregular  and  uncommon  in  September  and 
October.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  in  fall,  rare  in  spring."  Dedham : 
"  Rather  common  migrant."  Essex  County  :  "September.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "  Rather  common  transient  visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common." 
Springfield:  "Tolerably  common  autumn  visitant."  ^A/^ellesley :  Oc- 
casional. 

89.  Tringa  bairdii  Coues.     Baird's  Sandpiper. 

A  rare  autumn  migrant.  It  has  been  taken  at  Boston  Har- 
bour, Marblehead,  Monomoy  (Cape  Cod),  Swampscott  and 
Ipswich. 

August  15  to  August  30. 

Essex  County:  "Very  abundant  in  1852,  but  I  have  not  seen  any  since. 
—  J[illson]."     Ipswich:    One  instance. 

90.  Tringa  fusicollis  Vieill.     White-rumped  Sandpiper. 
An     uncommon   spring     and    autumn     migrant   on    the    coast. 

Casual  inland. 

May  15  to  30;  July  15  to  October  15. 

Cohasset:  "  Rare  in  fall."  Ipswich:  "  Irregular  and  at  times  common 
transient  visitant.'''  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "Common 
autumn  migrant." 

91.  Tringa  maritima  Brunn.     Purple  Sandpiper. 

A  not  uncommon  autumn  and  winter  visitant  to  rocky  shores. 
Accidental  inland. 

September  6  to  [March  i]. 


Annotated  List    of    Species  4 1 

Cambridge:  Casual,  one  instance,  October.  Cohasset :  "Not  rare  in 
late  fall  and  winter."  Essex  County  :  "Winter.  Rather  rare."  Spring- 
field :    "  Accidental  visitor."     One  instance,  November. 

92.  Tringa  ferruginea  Briinn.      Curlew  Sandpiper. 
Accidental  from  the  Old  World.     The  records  are:    Cape Ann^ 

one  taken  in  the  autumn  of  1865  ;^  East  Boston,  one  taken  early 
in  May,  1866  ;'^  Nahant^  one  taken  about  1869;*  Ipswich,  one 
taken  about  1875  ;^  Cape  Cod^  one  taken  about  May  10,  1878;  3 
Chatham,  a  male  taken  August  26,  1889,  and  now  in  the  mounted 
collection  of  the  Brookline  High  School.® 

93.  Tringa  canutus  Linn.     Knot. 

An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant  along  the  coast, 
rarely  wintering.     Casual  inland.* 

May  II   to  June  5    (June  15)  ;  July  13  to  October  28;  Winter. 

Bristol  County:  "Common  transient  visitant.  Not  so  common  in- 
land." Cohasset :  "  Rare  in  spring,  fairly  common  in  the  fall."  Ipswich  : 
"  Rather  uncommon  transient  visitant."  Nantucket:  ''Scarce."  Spring- 
field: "Accidental  visitor."  Wellesley:  "  Casual  inland."  Lake  Cochit- 
uate. 

94.  Tringa  alpina  Linn.  European  Dunlin.  • 
Accidental  from  the  Old  World.  Mr.  Charles  J.  Paine,  ^r.^  per- 
mits us  to  record  here  for  the  first  time  the  capture  of  this  species 
in  Massachusetts,  on  the  basis  of  a  female  taken  at  Chatham, 
August  II,  1900,  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Cochrane.  This  specimen  is  now 
in  Mr.  William  Brewster's  collection  (No.  48598). 

95.  Tringa  alpina  pacifica  (Coue.s).  Red-backed  Sand- 
piper. 

A  rare  spring  and  not  uncommon  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 

1  Sanriuels  ;  Ornithology  and  Oology  of  N.  E.,  1867,  P-  444- 

2  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No.  2,  July,  1876,  pp.  51,  5?. 
•^  Deane;  Bull.  Nutt.  Om.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1879,  p.  124. 
^Brewer;   Proc.   Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XVII,  1875,  p.  446. 
^Editor;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  7,  July,  1890,  p.  110. 

*Mackay;  Auk,  Vol.  X,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1893,  pp.  25-35. 


42 


Birds  of  Massachusetts 


Occasional  inland.  According  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  "  a  few  some- 
times remain  in  summer." 

March  15  to  May  15  (June  18)  ;  September  17  to  December  10 
(December  24). 

Bristol  County:  "Rather  common  transient  visitant  in  fall."  Cam- 
bridge: Casvxal,  one  instance,  October.  Cohasset :  "  Rather  rare  in  fall." 
Dedham :  "A  few  taken."  Essex  County:  "May  and  September.  Not 
abundant."  Ipswich:  "Uncommon  transient  visitant,  occasionally  in 
large  flocks."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "Tolerably  com- 
mon autumn  visitor,"  rare  in  spring.  Wellesley :  "Occasional  on  Ne^ 
ponset  Meadows  in  fall." 

96.    Gallinago  delicata  (Ord).     Wilson's  Snipe. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  occurring  rarely  as  a 
winter  resident  on  Cape  Cod  and  at  other  "  favorable  localities." 
It  has  been  reported  as  breeding  at  Brookline  ^  and  perhaps  at 
South  Sherborne,  at  which  latter  place  half-grown  young  were 
found  August  i.^  Their  breeding  in  the  State,  however,  needs 
confirmation. 

(February  28)  March  20  to  May  18  ;  August  i  to  November  30  ; 
Winter. 

Amherst:  "  Few  instances."  Berkshire:  "Rare  transient  spring  and 
autumn  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Rather  common  transient  visitant." 
Brookline:  "An  uncommon  migrant."  Found  breeding.  Cambridge: 
Common  transient  visitant.  Cohasset  :  "  Rather  common  in  fall  in  the 
marshes  in  dry  seasons."  Dedham  :  "  Common  migrant."  Essex 
County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Common."  [  ?]  Ipswich:  "  Rather  common 
transient  visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "Common 
spring  and  autumn  visitor."  Also  recorded  in  mid-summer  and  winter. 
Templeton:  "A  rare  transient  visitant."  Wellesley:  "Migrant.... 
common  locally  in  spring  and  fall." 

97.    Philohela  minor  (Gmel.).     American  Woodcock. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant ;  and  as  a  summer  resi- 
dent now  rare  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  but  still  not  uncom- 
mon in  the  western  portions,  though  yearly  becoming  rarer.  Per- 
haps accidentally  wintering. 

(February  18  and  20)  March  19  to  November  25  (December 
10). 

1  Francis  ;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1883,  p.  243. 
^  Morse  ;  Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  17. 


Annotated   List   of    Species 


43 


Amherst:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Not  rare  sum- 
mer resident;  common  in  migrations."  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon 
summer  resident,  common  in  migrations."  Brookline:  "Not  uncom- 
mon migrant,  and  rare  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Summer  resi- 
dent. Formerly  common,  fast  becoming  rare.  Cohasset:  "  Rather  rare 
summer  resident,  more  common  as  a  fall  migrant."  Dedham:  "  Rapidly 
becoming  scarce."  Essex  County:  "Summer  resident.  Common." 
Ipswich:  "  Summer  resident.  A  few."  Nantucket:  [One  instance.]. 
Springfield:  "Regular  spring  and  autumn  visitor ....  tolerably  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Wellesley  :  "Migrant.     A  few  breed." 

98.  Crymophilus  fulicarius  (Linn.).     Red  Phalarope. 
An  irregular  but  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant  off 

the  coast.  There  was  a  remarkable  flight  in  May,  1892,  along  the 
South  shore.*  This  species  and  Phalaropus  lobaius  are  off-shore 
migrants,  and  as  a  rule  are  only  driven  in  by  storms.  Accidental 
inland. 

May  I  to  23  ;   August  31  to  November  2. 

Cohasset:  "  Abundant  at  times  in  fall  and  spring."  Nantucket:  "Com- 
mon." Springfield:  "Accidental  visitor."  September.  Wellesley: 
"Accidental."     October. 

99.  Phalaropus    lobatus    (Linn.).     Northern  Phalarope. 
A  not  uncommon    spring   and  autumn    migrant  off  the  coast. 

Casual  inland. 

May  4  to  May  25  ;  August  12  to  October  13. 

Bristol  County:  "Rather  uncommon  transient  visitor."  Cohasset: 
"Rather  numerous  at  times  off  shore."  Nantucket:  "Common." 
Springfield:  "Accidental  visitor."  October.  \A^ellesley :  "  One  ex- 
ample." 

100.  Steganopus  tricolor  Vieill.     Wilson's  Phalarope. 

A  very  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant  to  the  coast.  There  are 
but'few  definite  records :  near  Boston,  one  was  given  to  Audubon 
in  the  winter  of  1833  (?)  by  John  Bethune ;  ^   Nahant,  a  male  taken 


*  Mackay;  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  3,  July,  1892,  pp.  294-298,  Miller;    id/d.,pp. 
)8-299,  and  F.  B.  W.  ;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  7,  July,  1892,  p.  109. 
1  Audubon;    Birds  of  America,  Vol.  V,  1842,  p.  300. 


44 


Birds  of  Massachusetts 


by  Mr.  George  O.  Welch,  May  [2],  1874,^  now  in  the  collection  of 
the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History;  Nantucket^  a  specimen 
taken  by  Mr.  George  H.  Mackay,  August  31,  1889.^ 

loi.    Plegadis  autumnalis  (Hasselq.).     Glossy  Ibis. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are:  Of  the  1850 
flight,*  there  are  the  following  Massachusetts  records :  Cafnbridge^ 
at  Fresh  Pond,  one  shot  from  a  flock  of  three,  May  8,  and  now  in 
the  mounted  collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History  ;  3 
Concord,  one  shot  by  [Mr.  Buttrick]  in  early  May,  is  also  in  the 
mounted  collection  of  the  Boston  Society ;  *  Midd/eboro,  two  shot 
out  of  a  flock  of  three  on  May  6  or  7,  and  now  in  the  Brown  Uni- 
versity collection;^  Nantucket,  one  taken  in  September,  1869.^ 
Of  the  1878  flight,  the  following  are  recorded  :  East/mm,  one  shot 
May  4,  by  Augustus  Denton  and  now  in  the  mounted  collection 
of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  ;  "^  Orleans,  an  adult  shot 
on  May  5  ;  ^  East  Orleans,  one  also  shot  on  May  5  ;  '^  Wellesley^  the 
following  record  must  be  included  though  very  indefinite:  "Mr. 
[A.  L.]  Babcock  reports  seeing  a  pair  exhibited  at  Framingham 
many  years  ago,  which  were  taken  at  Lake  Cochituate."  ® 

102.   Tantalus  loculator  Linn.     Wood  Ibis. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  There  are  but  two  records  :  George- 
town^ one  taken  by  Frank  Hale,  June  19,  1880  ;  ^^  Seekonk^  a  young 
male  taken  on  July  17,  1896,  and  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr. 
William  Brewster.^^ 

1  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway ;   Water  Birds,  Vol.  I,  1884,  p.  338. 

2  Mackay  ;    Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1891,  p.  120. 

*  Browne;  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1887,  pp.  97-100. 

3  Cabot;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  Ill,  i85i,p.  313.  (Recorded 
earlier  in  local  daily  papers.) 

^  Stearns  and  Coues ;    N.  E.  Bird  Life,  Vol.  II,  1883,  p.  255. 

^  Cabot;    ioc.  cit.,  p.  314. 

^ Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  637  ;  p.  39  of  separate. 

7  Cory  and  Allen  ;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  3,  July,  1878,  p.  152. 

s  Brewer;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  3,  July,  1878,  p.  151. 

^  Morse;    Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.    14. 

10  Allen;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1883,  p.  185. 

ii  Brewster;    Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1896,  p.  341. 


Annotated   List   of   Species  4^ 

103.  Ardea  herodias  Linn.     Great  Blue  Heron. 
A  rather  common  migrant ;  rare  in  winter. 

March  17  to  May  (June  25)  ;  July  15  to  November  26  (Win- 
ter). 

Amherst:  Occasional  in  spring  and  fall.  Berkshire  :  "  Not  common, 
chiefly  in  spring  arid  autumn,  ....  no  positive  evidence  of  its  breeding." 
Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient  visitant."  Brookline  :  "  A  not 
uncommon  migrant."  Winter.  Cambridge  :  Common  transient  visitant. 
Occasional  in  summer.  Cohasset :  "  Common  in  fall  and  spring."  Ded- 
ham  :  "  Regular  visitor  in  the  migrations."  Essex  County  :  "Summer 
visitant.  Common."  Ipswich  :  "  Rather  common  transient  visitant." 
Nantucket:  "Common  in  September."  Springfield:  "  A  transient  visi- 
tor." TempletoA:  "A  rare  summer  resident,  [.'']  common  in  the  fall." 
Wellesley:    "  Common  migrant." 

104.  Ardea  egretta  Gmel.     American  Egret. 

An  occasional  summer  visitant.  There  are  records  from  the 
following  localities:  Ashland,  Dedham,  Hudson,  Ipsw^ich,  Lynn, 
Nantucket,  North  Hadley,  Plymouth,  Quincy,  Springfield,  Tops- 
field,  Wellesley,  We.st  Brookfield  and  Westford.  The  last  record 
is:  Nantucket,  one  taken  September  23,  1890.^ 

April,  May,  August,  September,  November. 

105.  Ardea  caerulea  Linn.     Little  Blue  Heron. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are  :  Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts^'-^ ?i  specimen  in  the  State  agricultural  Cabinet";^  Cohas- 
set^ a  male  in  immature  plumage  shot  about  1852  by  a  Mr.  Morse  ;  3 
Newton,  seen  "  on  one  or  two  occasions  in  autumn  "  by  Mr.  C.  J. 
Maynard;^  Ipswich,  one  taken  August  10,  1881,  and  now  in 
the  collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History ;  Bourne^ 
a  flock  of  about  six,  all  in  white  plumage  was  seen  by  Mr.  O. 
Bangs,  in  midsummer   1881  :  one  was  shot  by  Mr.  A.  Hardy. 

106.  Ardea  candidissima  Gmel.     Snowy  Heron. 

An  accidental  visitant  from  the  south.     The  records  are:  Near 

I 

iMackay;    Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1891,  p.  120. 

2  Allen  ;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  86. 

3  Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XIX,  1878,  p.  259. 
'•Maynard;    Nat.  Guide,  1870,    p.   143  and  Allen;  Amer.   Nat.,  Vol.    Ill, 

No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  637,  p.  39  of  separate. 


46  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

Boston^  one  killed  in  1862  ;  ^  Northauipton^  one  was  taken  prior  to 
1887  by  E.  O.  Damon  ;  ^  Nantucket^  one  taken  at  Hummock  Pond, 
March,  188 1,3  by  one  of  the  men  of  the  Life  Saving  Station. 

107.  Nycticorax  violaceus  (Linn.).  Yellow-crowned 
Night  Heron. 

An  accidental  visitant  from  the  south.  There  is  some  evidence 
of  its  having  possibly  bred  on  Cape  Cod  in  189 1,  where  an  old 
and  a  young  bird  were  taken  on  July  8  and  18  respectively.  The 
records  are :  Ashland  [  ?  ],  one  taken  in  1857,  teste  A.  L.  Babcock  ;  * 
Lynn,  one  taken  in  October,  1862  ;  ^  Somennlle^  a  young  bird  was 
taken  July  30,  1878  ;  ^  Provificetown,  an  adult  male  taken  on  July 
8,"^  an  adult  seen,  and  a  young  female  taken  on  July  18,  1891  ;^ 
Maiden^  one  was  shot  by  a  Mr.  Haley  about  1893.^ 

108.  Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius  (Bodd.).  Black- 
crowned  Night  Heron. 

A  common  summer  resident,  wintering  locally  in  small  numbers 
near  the  coast. 

April  I  to  November  i  ;  Winter. 

Amherst :  Taken  near  Connecticut  River.  Berkshire  :  Summer 
resident,  not  common.  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resi- 
dent in  southern  part  of  County."  Brookline  :  "  A  permanent  resident." 
Cambridge  :  A  permanent  resident ;  most  common  in  August  and 
September.  Cohasset  :  "  Abundant  in  summer."  Dedham  :  "  Com- 
mon." Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant."  Common.  Ipswich  : 
"Abundant  summer  resident."  Nantucket:  "Common.''  Springfield: 
"Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "Not  uncommon  summer 
resident." 

109.  Butorides  virescens  (Linn.).     Green  Heron. 
A  common  summer  resident. 

1  Allen;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  pp.  85,  86. 
^  Clark  ;   Birds  of  Amherst,  1887,  p.  46. 

3Purdie;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1882,  p.  251. 
^  Morse;    Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  15. 

^  Allen  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  637,  p.  39  of  separate. 
^Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,   1879,  pp.   124, 
125. 
7  Small;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  4,  Apr.,  1891 ,  p.  64. 
^  Small;  ibid.,  No.  9,  Sept.,  1891,  p.  135. 
^Forbush;    /«  litteris  and  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1894,  p.  55. 


Annotated   List  of    Species 


47 


April  1 6  to  October. 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Summer  resi- 
dent. Not  abundant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  A  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Common  summer  resi- 
dent. Cohasset  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Dedham  :  "Common." 
Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Summer 
resident.  Common."  Springfield  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Tem- 
pleton:  "Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Common  summer 
resident." 

no.     Ardetta  exilis  (Gmel.).     Least  Bittern. 

A  not  uncommon,  but  very  local  summer  resident,  mainly  near 
the  coast. 

April  15  to  September  i. 

Amherst:  "One  instance.  Northampton."  Brookline:  "  Formerly  a 
summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Rather  common  summer  resident.  Ded- 
ham: "  Five  taken  ....  in  1874."  EssexCounty:  "May.  Rare."  Spring- 
field:  "  Rare."     Wellesley  :    "  Rare  or  scarce  summer  resident." 

III.  Botaurus  lentiginosus  (Montag.).  American  Bit- 
tern. 

A  somewhat  local,  but  fairly  common  summer  resident.  Casual 
in  winter. 

(January  5)  March  31  to  November  11   (December  30). 

Amherst:  "A  rare  but  regular  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  *' Not 
common  summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "  Uncommon  summer  resi- 
dent, more  common  in  migrations."  Brookline:  "An  uncommon  mi- 
grant." Cambridge:  Not  common  summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "  Rather 
common."  Dedham:  "  Rather  common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer 
visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Nan- 
tucket: "  Common."  Springfield:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Tem- 
pleton:  "  Summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Not  common  summer  resident." 

1X2.    Olor  columbianus  (Ord).  Whistling  Swan. 

Although  "  not  uncommon  "  two  centuries  ago,  it  is  now  only 
accidental.  The  recent  records  are :  Nahant,  a  specimen  in  the 
mounted  collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  with- 
out data,  is  probably  the  one  referred  to  by  Brewer  (1879)  ^^^ 
Mr.  William  Brewster^  as  having  been  shot  about  1864  by  a  Mr. 
Taylor  ;  Ipswich^  seen  occasionally  by  Mr.  F.  E.  Le  Baron  "  in  for- 

1  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1879,  p.  125, 


^.8  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

mer  years  "  ;  ^  Nantucket^  one  shot  March  4,  1878,  on  Coskata  Pond 
by  Mr.  F.  B.  Chadwick,  and  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  A.  S.  Sweet 
of  Nantucket :  it  was  first  seen  on  Sacacha  Pond,  on  Decerpber  27 » 
1877  ;  ^  Sojnersef,  five  were  seen  flying  over  on  October  16,  1880,  by 
EHsha  Slade ;  3  Middleboro,  a  young  bird,  shot  about  December  27, 
1885  ;  *  Weston,  a  male  shot  December  17,  1890,  out  of  a  flock  of 
seven  by  Michael  McCarthy.-  The  bird  is  now  in  the  collection  of 
Mr.  William  Brewster.^ 

J 13.    .^x  sponsa  (Linn.).     Wood  Duck. 

A  common  summer  resident,  becoming  rarer  near  the  coast. 

March  20  to  December  31. 

Amherst:  "A  common  migrant,  but  a  rare  breeder."  Berkshire:  "  Not 
rare  summer  resident,  but  much  less  common  than  it  used  to  be."  Bris- 
tol County:  "  Uncommon  summer  resident  in  the  ponds,  more  common 
on  migrations."  Brookline:  Former^'  a  summer  resident.  Cambridge: 
Common  transient  visitant,  a  few  breed.  Cohasset:  "  Rather  rare  but 
occasionally  breeding."  Dedham:  "  Tolerably  common."  Essex  County: 
"  Summer.  Not  abundant."  Ipswich:  "  Summer  resident  on  fresh 
water  portion  of  Ipswich  River."  Nantucket:  "  Rare."  Springfield: 
"Common  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Common  summer  resi- 
dent."    Wellesley:    "  Common  migrant.     A  few  breed." 

114.  Chen  caerulescens  (Linn.).     Blue  Goose. 

Casual  from  the  interior.  The  only  record  is :  Gloucestei'^  a 
young  female  shot  in  or  near  Essex  Creek,  West  Parish,  October 
20,  1876,  and  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  William  A.  Jeffries.^ 

115.  Chen  hyperborea  (Pall.).     Lesser  Snow  Goose. 

The  status  of  this  species  and  of  Chen  h.  nivalis  in  this  State  is 
not  well  understood.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  majority  of 
records  for  Snow  Geese  in  Massachusetts  are  referable  to  Chen 
hyperborea,  and  we  prefer  to  let  those  indefinitely  recorded,  and 
now  beyond  determination,  as  well  as  those  more  lately  recorded, 
stand  under  C.  hyperborea. 

iMaynard;  Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  146. 

2  Brewster;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1878,  pp.  19S,  199. 

3  Slade;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1881,  pp.  123,  124. 
"  "J."  ;  Forest&  Stream,  Vol.  XXV,  Jan.  7,  1886,  p.  466. 
^Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1891,  p.  232. 

«  Jeffries  ;"  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1889,  p.  68. 


Annotated   List  of   Species  aq 

The  Lesser  Snow  Goose  is  said  to  be  a  rare  or  casual  visitant 
in  autumn,  and  has  been  once  shot  in  July  in  Boston  Harbour, 
according  to  Samuels. 

(July);  October  15  to  November  21. 

Cohasset  :  *' Occasional  in  autumn."  Springfield:  "  Rare  or  accidental." 
Two  instances. 

116.  Anser  albifrons  gambeli  (Hartl.) .  American  White- 
fronted  Goose. 

Formerly  an  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  The 
definite  records  are  :  Quincy,  a  male  is  recorded  having  been 
shot  and  presented  to  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History  -} 
Plymouth,  an  adult  male  was  shot  November  26,  1897,  by  Mr. 
Paul  W.  Gifford.  This  specimen  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr. 
William  Brewster."^ 

117.  Branta  canadensis  (Linn.)  .     Canada  Goose. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  It  formerly  bred  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State  according  to  Audubon,  and  a  nest  is  said 
to  have  been  taken  in  Lexington  in  April,  1888.3 

(January  26),  March  10  to  May  14;  (August  3)  September  28 
to  December  30, 

Amherst:  "Common  in  spring  and  fall."  Berkshire:  "Common 
spring  and  autumn  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient  visitor." 
Brookline  :  "A  not  uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge:  Common 
transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Numerous  in  autumn,  common  in 
spring."  Dedham  :  "  Often  seen  flying  over  during  the  migrations." 
Essex  County  :  "  April  and  October.  Common."  Ipswich  :  ''  Not  un- 
common transient  visitant."  Nantucket:  "Not  uncommon."  Spring- 
field :  "  Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant."  Templeton  :  "  Common 
migrant."     Wellesley  :     "  Common  migrant." 

Note  :   Branta  canadensis  hutchinsii  (Rich.).     Hutchin's  Goose. 

Perhaps  formerly  an  irregular  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  According 
to  Brewer  it  was  abundant  in  the  winter  of  1836-37.  There  are,  how- 
ever, no  recent  records,  and  as  many  small  Canada  Geese  (^Branta  cana- 
densis^ have  been  identified  as  B.  c.  hutchinsii^  we  prefer  to  leave  this 
species  unenumerated  until  a  definite,  well  authenticated  record  can  be 
cited. 

1  Cabot;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  Ill,  i8si,  p.  136. 
'Brewster:  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII.  No.  2,  Apr,,  i9oi,pp.  135,  136. 
3  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  I,  Jan.,  1889,  p.  14. 


CO  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

1 1 8.  Branta  leucopsis  (Bechst.).     Barnacle  Goose. 
Accidental    from    the    Old   World.       Although    Audubon    and 

Brewer  refer  to  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  the  State,  the  only- 
definite  record  is  :  North  Chatham^  one  shot  on  November  i,  1895, 
and  mounted  by  Mr.  N.  Vickary  of  Lynn.^ 

119.  Branta  bernicia  (Linn.).     Brant. 

A  rather  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  occasionally 
wintering. 

March  12  to  May  10  (June  2)  ;  September  23  to  Decem- 
ber 12.       (Winter). 

Cohasset  :  "  Rather  rare  in  fall."  Essex  County  :  "  October,  not  abun- 
dant." Ipswich:  One  instance.  Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield: 
"Not  common."     Templeton  :    "  Rare  migrant." 

120.  Branta  nigricans  (Lawr.).     Black  Brant. 
Accidental  from  the  west.     Although  referred  to  by  Brewer  on 

Henshaw's  authority,  there  is  but  one  definite  record :  Chatha7ny 
one  taken  in  the  spring  of  1883. ^ 

121.  Anas  boscas  Linn.     Mallard  Duck. 

An  uncommon  migrant  and  accidental  winter  resident,  rare  north 
of  Cape  Cod.  Its  alleged  breeding  at  Somerset  and  elsewhere 
requires  confirmation. 

April  12  ;  October  11  to  December  17  (January  3). 

Berkshire:  "  Rare  transient  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "Uncommon 
transient  visitor,  mostly  to  inland  ponds.  It  may  winter."  Cambridge  : 
[Occasional  in  fall  on  Fresh  Pond.]  Cohasset:  "Occasional  in  fall."^ 
Essex  County:  "Fall  and  Winter,  Rare."  Ipswich:  One  instance. 
November.  Nantucket:  "  Not  unusual."  Springfield:  "Rather  com- 
mon autumn  visitor."  Rare  in  spring.  Wellesley :  "  Rather  rare  mi- 
grant." 

122.  Anas  obscura  Gmel.     Black  Duck. 

It  has  long  been  known  in  a  general  way  that  two  kinds  of 
Black  Duck  occur  on  our  coast.  So  far,  on  account  of  the  diffi- 
culty of  procuring  breeding  specimens,  no  separation  has  been 
feasible.     Of  these  two  kinds  the  adults  apparently  are  separable 

iQ.  &  0.,  Vol.  XI,  No.  I,  Jan.,  1886,  p.  16. 
2  Cory  ;  Auk,  Vol.  I,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1884,  p.  96. 


Annotated    List    of    Species  C  I 

by  their  comparative  size  and  by  the  color  of  their  feet  and  tarsi, 
these  latter  being,  in  the  larger  birds,  vermilion  and  in  the  small- 
er, greenish-orange.  The  light  edgings  of  the  secondaries  seems 
also  to  be  a  character  of  the  larger  bird.  The  habits  of  the  two 
differ,  in  that  the  large  duck  appears  to  have  its  breeding  grounds 
in  the  north,  while  in  Massachusetts  the  smaller  form  only,  is 
known  to  breed.  The  larger  birds  are  confined  more  to  the  coast, 
in  their  migrations  which  appear  to  be  later  in  the  autumn  and 
earlier  in  the  spring,  than  in  the  case  of  the  smaller  bird ;  they 
migrate  rarely  south  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  following  dates  and 
local  annotations  apply  to  the  species  as  a  whole  without  regard  to 
the  distinctions  above  mentioned. 

August  1 6  to  April  6  ;  Summer. 

Amherst :  "  Formerly  very  abvindant  but  now  rare."  Berkshire  :  "Tol- 
erably common  summer  resident.  More  common  during  the  spring  and 
autumn.'"  Bristol  County:  "Permanent  resident,  uncommon  summer 
resident,  and  very  common  winter  resident."  Brookline  :  Casual.  Cam- 
bridge :  Very  common  transient  visitant ;  a  few  breed.  Cohasset : 
"  Abundant  in  spring,  common  in  fall  and  winter.  A  few  breed."  Ded- 
ham  :  "  Common  on  the  migrations."  Essex  County  :  "  Winter.  Abun- 
dant." Ipswich:  '' Abundant  winter  visitant."  Nantucket:  "Common." 
Springfield:  "Abundant  in  spring,  and  autumn."  A  few  winter  and 
"  a  few  breed."  Templeton  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  : 
"  Common  migrant,  scarce  summer  resident." 

123.  Chaulelasmus  streperus  Linn.     Gadwall. 

A  very  rare  or  accidental  visitant,  though  generally  considered 
not  very  uncommon.  There  are  two  specimens  in  the  Museum  at 
Springfield,  taken  there  many  years  ago,  which  Mr.  Robert  O. 
Morris  assures  us  hi  Uiteris  are  of  this  species. 

124.  Mareca  penelope  Linn.     European  Widgeon. 
Accidental.    There  is  but  one  definite  record,  though,  according 

to  E.  A.  Samuels,  one  has  been  taken  in  the  State ;  ^  near  Hali- 
fax, an  adult  male  taken  on  Monponsett  Pond,  on  October  20,  1899, 
'  by  a  Mr.  Shindler.^ 


1  Samuels  teste).  A.  Allen;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  P-  88. 
'^Brewster  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  135. 


52 


Birds   of  Massachusetts 


125.  Mareca  americana  (Gmel.).      American  Widgeon. 
An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

February  22  to  April;  October  20  to  December  2. 

Cohasset :  "Rare  in  fall."  Essex  County:  "Fall  and  winter.  Not 
common,"  Ipswich:  "Uncommon  transient  visitant."  Nantucket: 
"  Not  verv  abundant."  Springfield  :  "  Not  very  common  but  regular  spring 
and  fall  visitant."     Wellesley  :    "  Migrant.     Casual  in  fall." 

126.  Nettion  crecca  Linn.     European  Teal. 
Accidental.     .There  are  but  three  records  :  Massachusetts^  about 

1855,  a  specimen,  which  was  killed  in  the  State,  was  sent  to  P^.  A. 
Samuels;^  Muskeget  Island^  an  adult  male  taken  March  16,  1890, 
and  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  William  Brewster;"^  Sagamore, 
an  adult  male  caught  in  a  steel  trap  about  February  20,  1896,  by 
Rev.  E.  A.  Phillips,  and  also  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  William 
Brewster.3 

127.  Nettion  carolinense  (Gmel.).     Green- winged  Teal. 
An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

(February  i)  April;   September  28  to  November. 

Amherst:  Taken  at  Amherst  and  Northampton.  Berkshire:  "Tran- 
sient visitant."  Cannbridge:  Uncommon  transient  visitant.  Cohasset: 
"  Rare  or  even  casual."  Dedham  :  "  Regular  in  the  fall."  Essex  County  : 
"  October  and  November.  Rather  rare."  Ipswich:  "  Uncommon  transient 
visitant.''  Springfield:  "Not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant." 
Wellesley:    "  Rather  scarce  migrant." 

128.  Dafila  acuta  (Linn.).     Pintail  Duck. 
A  rare  autumn  and  very  rare  spring  migrant. 
September  11  to  December  12  ;   February  22  to  April. 
Amherst:    One    instance:    Northampton.      Berkshire:     One  instance: 

Hinsdale.  Bristol  County:  "Rather  common  transient  visitor."  Cam- 
bridge: Casual  transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Casual."  Essex  County  : 
"Autumn.  Rare."  Ipswich:  Several  instances.  Nantucket:  "Scarce; 
young  birds  occasionally."  Springfield:  "  Common  autumn  visitant,  but 
rare  in  spring." 

129.  Querquedula    discors  (Linn.).     Blue-winged  Teal. 
A  not  uncommon  autumn  and  rare  spring  migrant. 

1  Bryant;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  V,  1856,  p.  195. 
^Mackay;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  p.  294. 
^Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  XVHI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  135. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  C7 

April  to  last  of  May ;  August  to  November  26. 

Amherst :  Not  rare  near  the  Connecticut,  and  occasional  in  Amherst. 
Berkshire  :  "Transient  visitant  in  the  autumn."  Brookline  :  "  Formerly 
not  uncommon."  Bristol  County  :  "  Uncommon  transient  visitor.  It  may 
winter."  Cambridge  :  Rare  in  spring.  Very  common  [at  least  formerly]. 
Cohasset :  '•  Formerly  common,  now  rare."  Dedham  :  An  uncommon 
regular  fall  visitor.  Essex  County  :  "  September,  common.  Spring, 
rare."  Ipswich  :  "  Uncommon  transient  visitant."  Nantucket :  "  Scarce." 
Springfield  :  "  A  common  autumn  but  rare  spring  visitor."  Seen  also 
repeatedly  in  midsummer.  Templeton :  ''Rare  accidental  visitor." 
Wellesley  :    "  Rather  scarce  migrant." 

130.  Spatula  clypeata  (Linn.).     Shoveller  Duck. 

Formerly  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  but  since  1890  of  exceed- 
ingly rare  occurrence  in  the  State,  and  now  to  be  considered  prac- 
tically accidental. 

September  25  ;   Spring. 

Amherst:  Taken  once  or  twice  at  Northampton.  Berkshire:  "  Ex- 
tremely rare  spring  and  (autumn  ?)  transient."  Cohasset:  "Occasional." 
Essex  County:  "Autumn.  Rare."  Nantucket:  One  instance.  Spring- 
field :  "  Accidental  visitor." 

131.  Nyroca  americana  (Eyt.).     Red-headed  Duck. 

A  not  uncommon  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast  south  of  Cape  Cod, 
but  rare  in  spring.  A  few  winter.  To  the  north  of  the  Cape 
decidedly  less  common.  A  pair  was  observed  on  a  small  pond  at 
Waltham,  October  7,  1899,  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Bigelow. 

October  7  to  March  20. 

Berkshire:  Said  to  have  been  taken  at  Pittsfield.  Bristol  County: 
"  Rare  transient  visitor  to  the  ponds."  Cambridge  :  Casual,  one  instance, 
October.  Cohasset:  "Formerly  rather  rare,  now  accidental."  Essex 
County:  "  Fall  and  winter.  Very  rare."  Nantucket:  "  Fairly  common." 
Springfield:    '*  Rare  autumn  visitor."     Wellesley:    "Migrant.     Casual." 

132.  Nyroca  vallisneria  (Wils.).     Canvas-back  Duck. 

A  very  rare  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast.  Has  been  reported 
from  Bridgewater,  Cohasset,  Essex  County,  Fresh  Pond  at  Cam- 
bridge, Nantucket,  Newburyport,  Plymouth  County,  Springfield, 
Taunton  and   Wellesley. 

October  24  to  December  18;  March  20  to  31. 

Bristol  County :  "One  record:  —  Taunton,  fall  of  1884."     Cambridge: 


54 


Birds  of   Massachusetts 


[One  instance,  Fresh  Pond.]  Cohasset :  "One  or  more  instances." 
Essex  County:  "Fall  and  winter.  Very  rare."  Nantucket:  "Rare." 
Wellesley :  "Migrant.     Casual." 

133.  Nyroca  marila  (Linn.).     American  Scaup  Duck. 
An     uncommon  autumn    and    rare  spring   migrant    along    the 

coast,  perhaps  occurring  in  winter.     Occasional  inland. 

September  22  to  May  i. 

Bristol  County :  "  Common  in  migrations."  Cohasset:  "Uncommon 
in  fall  and  rare  in  spring."  Essex  County :  "  Fall  and  winter.  Rare." 
Nantucket:  "Common."  Springfield:  "Uncommon  autumn  visitor." 
Wellesley:    "  Casual  on  lakes.     Two  examples,  fall." 

134.  Nyroca  affinis  (Eyt.).     Lesser  Scaup  Duck. 

A  rather  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast. 
Occasional  inland. 

October;    [February  i]  to  April  12. 

Cambridge  :  Common  in  October  and  November ;  rare  in  spring. 
Cohasset:  Recorded.  Nantucket:  "Not  uncommon."  Springfield: 
*' Rare  spring,  and  common  autumn  visitor."  "Wellesley:  "Migrant. 
Scarce." 

135.  Nyroca  coUaris  (Donov.).     Ring-necked  Duck. 

A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant  occurring  chiefly  away  from 
the  coast. 

March  and  April;  October  14  to  November  23. 

Cambridge:     Casual;     one     instance,     November.  Essex     County: 

"Autumn.  Very  rare."  Springfield:  "  A  rare  autvimn  visitor."  Wel- 
lesley :  "  A  rare  migrant." 

136.  Clangula  clangula  americana  (Bonap.).  American 
Golden-eye  Duck. 

Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  abundant  winter  resi- 
dent on  the  coast.     Not  uncommon  inland. 

November  i  to  April  19  (May). 

Berkshire:  Occasionally  taken.  Bristol  County:  "Very  common 
winter  visitor  along  the  coast  and  up  the  rivers."  Cambridge  :  Rather 
common,  October  and  November.  Cohasset :  "  Rare  in  fall,  common  in 
winter."  Dedham  :  One  instance.  Essex  County :  "November  to  May. 
Abundant."  Ipswich  :  "  Common  winter  visitant."  Nantucket :  "  Com- 
mon." Springfield:  "Abundant  spring  and  autumn  visitor."  Occasional 
in  winter.     Wellesley  :  "  Common  on  ponds  in  March  and  April." 


Annotated  List  of  Species  t  c 

137.  Clangula  islandica  (Gmel.).  Barrow's  Golden-eye 
Duck. 

A  very  rare  winter  visitant.  The  records  are :  Ca/e  Cod, 
December  7,  187 1,  an  adult  female  ;  ^  Boston  Market^  "numbers 
of  females  and  two  fine  males  seen,"  most  of  them  shot  within 
State  limits  during  the  winter  of  i87i-'72;^  Ipswich,  there  is  a 
male  labelled  January  27,  1879,  in  the  mounted  collection  of  the 
Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  which  appears  unrecorded ; 
Plymouth^  a  male,  shot  in  the  autumn,  about  1885.^ 

138.  Charitonetta  albeola  (Linn.).     Buffle-head  Duck. 
An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast,  winter- 
ing rarely.     Not  uncommon  inland. 

(September)  October  25  to  November  29;  Winter;  March  11 
to  April  8. 

Berkshire:  "  Rare  transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon 
winter  visitant."  Cambridge  :  Common  in  October  and  November. 
Cohasset :  "Not  rare  in  spring  and  fall."  Dedham  :  "One  taken." 
Essex  County:  "October  to  May.  Abundant."  Nantucket:  "Not 
uncommon."  Springfield:  "Not  uncommon  in  early  spring  and  late 
autumn."  Templeton  :  One  instance.  Wellesley  :  "  Not  uncommon  on 
ponds  in  October  and  November.     Casual  in  spring." 

139.  Harelda  hiemalis  (Linn.).     Long-tailed  Duck. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  winter  resident 
along  the  coast.     Occasional  inland. 

October  10  to  April  19  (May  7). 

Berkshire:  "Rare  transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant 
winter  visitor  along  the  coast."  Cambridge:  Rather  common,  October 
and  November.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  in  fall  and  winter.  Most  abun- 
dant duck."  Ipswich  :  "  Common  off  shore  in  winter."  Nantucket : 
"  Common."     Springfield:  "  Rather  rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor." 

140.  Histrionicus  histrionicus  (Linn).  Harlequin 
Duck. 

A  rare  early  winter  visitant  along  the  coast.  There  is  one  spec- 
imen in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology  taken  at  Hudson,  Mass.,  over  twenty  miles  inland. 

November  i  to  January. 

1  Brewster;   Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  5,  May,  1872,  pp.  306,  307. 

2  Job ;    Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  3,  July,  1896,  p.  202. 


Co  Birds    of  Massachusetts 

Cohasset :  "  Very  rare  in  fall,  occasionally  killed  in  November.*'    Essex 
County:   "Winter.     Very  rare." 


141.   CEdemia   americana   Swains.     American    Scoter. 

A  not  uncommon  migrant  and  winter  resident  along  the  coast. 
Occasional  inland.     This  species  seems  to  be  decreasing  yearly.* 

September  10  to  April  25   (May  9). 

Bristol  County  :  "  Common  winter  visitor  along  the  coast."  Cambridge  : 
Occasional  in  fall.  Cohasset:  "Common  in  fall,  in  proportion  of  about 
one  to  ten  of  CE.  deglandt."  Essex  County  :  "  October  to  May.  Abun- 
dant." Ipswich  :  *'  Common  off  shore  in  winter."  Nantucket :  "  Com- 
mon." Templeton :  "Not  rare  in  the  autumn  on  the  large  ponds." 
"Wellesley  :  "  Casual  in  fall  on  lakes." 


142.  CEdemia  deglandi  Bonap.     White-winged  Scoter. 
An  abundant  migrant  and  common  wdnter  resident  on  the  coast. 

Barren  or  crippled  birds  often  summer  along  shore.  Occasional 
inland.  The  spring  migration  of  these  birds  to  the  westward 
between  the  dates  of  May  7  and  25,  is  of  especial  interest,  the 
birds  turning  inland  near  Noank,  Connecticut,  and  proceeding 
northward  by  the  Connecticut  River  and  Hudson  River  routes.* 

September  28  to  May  25.     Summer. 

Berkshire:  A  flight  in  the  autumn  of  1895,  at  Cheshire  Reservoir. 
Bristol  County:  "Abundant  winter  visitor  along  the  coast."  Cambridge: 
Occasional  in  fall.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  in  fall  and  winter;  a  few 
stay  all  summer."  Essex  County:  "October  to  May.  Abundant." 
Ipswich  :  "  Abundant  in  winter,  October  to  April."  Nantucket :  "  Com- 
mon." Springfield:  "Rare."  Wellesley:  "Casual,  sometimes  not  un- 
common on  lakes  in  fall." 

143.  CEdemia  perspicillata  (Linn.).     Surf  Scoter. 

An  abundant  migrant  and  common  winter  resident  on  the  coast. 
Barren  or  crippled  birds  often  summer  along  shore.  Casual 
inland.* 

September  28  to  May  9.     Summer. 
X     Bristol  County :  "  Common  winter  visitant  along  the  coast."  Cambridge: 
Occasional   in  fall.     Cohasset:  "Abundant    in  fall;    common   in  winter. 
A  few  stay  all  summer."     Essex  County:    "  October  to  May.    Abundant." 

*  Mackay;    Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1891,  pp.  279-290. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  ^J 

Ipswich:  "  Abundant  in  winter.  October  to  April."  Nantucket:  "Com- 
mon," Springfield  :  One  instance.  Fall.  Wellesley  :  "  Casual  on  lakes 
in  fall." 

144.  Somateria  dresseri  Sharpe.     American  Eider. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  winter  resident 
off  the  coast.* 

Bristol  County  :  "  Common  winter  visitant  along  the  coast."  Cohasset : 
"  Rather  common  in  fall  and  winter."     Nantucket :  "  Common." 

145.  Somateria  mollissima  borealis  C.  L.  Brehm.  North- 
ern Eider. 

A  rare  winter  visitor  to  the  coast  from  the  north. 
Last  of  October  to  April  3. 

Cohasset:  One  instance.  Essex  County:  "  November  to  May.  Abun- 
dant."    [Probably  refers  to  S.  (fr esse r I. ]      Nantucket :"  Rare." 

146.  Somateria  spectabilis  (Linn.).     King  Eider. 
A  very  rare  winter  visitant  off  the  coast. 

November  i  to  April  5. 

Cohasset:  "One  instance."  Essex  County:  "Winter.  Very  rare.'* 
Nantucket :  "  Rare." 

147.  Nomonyx  dominicus  (Linn.).     Masked  Duck. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     One  record  only  :    Maiden^  a  male 

in  full  plumage  was  taken  August  27,  1889.  It  was  shot  on  a 
pond  of  less  than  an  acre  in  extent,  where  it  had  been  for  over  a 
week.     It  is  now  in  the  C.  B.  Cory  collection.^ 

148.  Erismatura  jamaicensis   (Gmel).     Ruddy  Duck. 
A   rather   common    spring    and    autumn    migrant.     Has   l)een 

known  to  breed  at  Cape  Cod,^'and  has  been  taken  in  the  breeding 
season  at  Cohasset,  Wakefield^  and  the  Charles  River. -^ 
March  20.     June  and  August ;    September  to  December  8. 


*  Mackay;   Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  pp.  315-319. 

>  Cory  ;   Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1889,  p.  336. 

^  Deane;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  7,  July,  1874,  pp.  433,  434  ;  Miller  ;  A  -k, 
Vol.  VIII,  No.  I,  Jan.,  1891,  pp.  117,  118,  and  Small;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI, 
No.  9,  Sept.,  1891,  p.  135. 


cS  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient  visitor  to  the  ponds."  Cambridge  : 
Very  common  in  October  and  November.  Cohasset:  "Occasional.  Once 
in  June."  Essex  County  :  "  September.  Rare."  Nantucket :  "  Rare." 
Springfield  :  "  A  rare  spring  and  fall  visitor."  Common  in  the  autumn 
of  1885.  Templeton  :  "  Common  during  the  fall  migrations."  Wellesley  : 
*' Migrant,  common  on  lakes  and  ponds  in  October  and  November." 

149.  Lophodytes  cucullatus  (Linn.).  Hooded  Mer- 
ganser. 

A  now  rather  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  winter 
resident. 

October  to  April  18. 

Amherst:  A  number  from  the  Connecticut  River.  Cambridge:  For- 
merly common  transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Now  only  occasional." 
Essex  County:  "Winter.  Rare."  Nantucket:  "Scarce."  Springfield: 
"Common  autumn  migrant."  Templeton  :  "A  rare  accidental  visitor." 
Wellesley:  "Migrant,  rather  rare." 


150.  Merganser  americanus  (Cass.).  American  Mer- 
ganser. 

A  rather  common  inland  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  occurring 
commonly  as  a  winter  resident  in  open  seasons.  According  to 
Audubon,  it  formerly  bred  in  the  State,  and  may  perhaps  still  do 
so  very  rarely. 

October  to  May  i  ;    Summer. 

Amherst:    "Not    uncommon"    near  Northampton.     Berkshire:    "Not 
very  rare,  transient,  spring  and  autumn  visitant."     Bristol  County  :  "  Un- 
common winter  visitor  to  the  ponds  and  rivers.     More  common  in  migra- 
tions."     Cambridge:    Formerly    common    transient    visitant.      Dedham : 
cs^  ^' Very  common  twenty  years  ago."    Essex  County  :  "  Spring  and  autumn. 

O  I  Rather  rare."  '  Ipowic^:  One  instance.'     Springfield  :  "  Most  abundant  of 

j  ducks  in  winter.    Repeatedly  seen  in  summer."   Templeton  :    "  Rare  sum_ 

mer  resident.     Common  during  the  migrations."     Wellesley:    "Common 
in  April  ;  less  so  in  fall." 

151,  Merganser  serrator(Linn.).  Red-breasted  Mergan- 
ser. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant  on  the  coast ;  common 
in  winter.     Occasional  inland. 

October  15  to  May  26;    (June  18). 


Annotated    List   of    Species  CO 

Amherst :  One  instance.  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  winter  visitor 
along  the  coast."  Cambridge  :  Casual ;  one  instance.  Cohasset :  *'  Abun- 
dant in  fall,  common  in  spring;  a  few  winter."  Kssex  County:  "Winter. 
Common."  Ipswich:  Uncommon.  Nantucket:  "Common."  Spring- 
field :  Two   instances. 


152.  Phalacrocorax  carbo  (Linn.).     Common  Cormorant. 
An  uncommon  migrant  to  the  coast    in    spring    and    autumn. 

Rare  in  winter. 

May  14  ;   September  22  to  October  5  ;  (Winter). 

Bristol  County  :  "Rather  common  visitant  along  the  coast,  and  up  the 
Taunton  River."  Essex  County:  "Winter.  Common."  Nantucket: 
"  Scarce." 

153.  Phalacrocorax  auritus  (Less.).  Double-crested 
Cormorant. 

A  common  migrant  along  the  coast  in  spring  and  autumn. 
Casual  inland. 

May;    September  i  to  October  i. 

Berkshire  :  "  Accidental  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient 
visitant  along  the  coast,  and  up  the  Taunton  River."  Cambridge  :  Casual. 
One  instance;  September.  Cohasset:  "  Common  in  fall,  rather  rare  in 
spring."  Springfield:  "A  rare  visitor"  except  during  1887  and  18S8 
when  several  small  flocks  were  seen.     Wellesley :  "  Casual." 

154.  Sula  bassana  (Linn.).     Gannet. 

A  migrant  off  the  coast;  rare  in  spring,  but  common  in  late 
summer  and  autumn. 

[May];    August  3  to  November  10. 

Cohasset:  "  Abundant  in  fall."  Essex  County:  "September.  Rather 
rare."     Ipswich:  One  instance.     Nantucket:  "  Not  very  common." 

155.  Sula  sula  (Linn.).     Booby. 

Accidental  off  the  coast.  There  is  but  one  record,  that  from 
Essex  County  (Putnam)  having  been  expunged :  Cape  Cod,  a 
male  in  the  collection  of  Messrs.  E.  A.  and  O.  Bangs,  which  was 
brought  to  the  Boston  Market,  September  17,  1878.^ 

1  Brewer;    Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  1879,  P-  277. 


6o  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

156.     Fregata  aquila  Linn.     Frigate   Bird. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  only  record  is  :  New  Bedford, 
a  young  specimen  was  shot  on  October  17,  1893,  and  was  recorded 
as  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  W.  J.  Knowlton  of  that  city.-^ 

4^v\Xo^'  157.     PelecanusiiUs€uS''Linn.     Brown  Pelican. 

A  very  rare  accidental  visitant  from  the  south.  The  records 
are :  Nantucket^  a  flock  of  thirteen  seen  by  Mr,  S.  C.  Martin 
[about  1867],^  and  one  was  killed:  Ipswich,  several  seen  [about 
1867]  by  Mr.  J.  F.  Le  Baron  according  to  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard.^ 

158.  Pelecanus  erythrorrhynchus  Gmel.  White  Pel- 
ican. 

An  extremely  rare  accidental    visitant   from  the  south.       The 

last  definite  record  is :    North  Scituate,  an  adult  male  taken  Octo- 

^ber  5,  1876,  by  Mr.  George  Pratt. 3     This  specimen  is  now  in  the 

Bryant   collectiori  in  the  Museum  of    Comparative  Zoology  (No. 

291). 

159.  Catharista  urubu  (Vieill).     Black  Vulture. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     The  records  are  ;    Swampscott,  one 

shot  in  November,  1850,  according  to  S.  Jillson;^  Gloucester,  one 
taken  September  28,  1863,  by  Mr.  William  Huntsford  ;  a  speci- 
men in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology,  labelled  "  Pigeon  Cove,"  is  doubtless  this  bird  ;  ^  Hudson, 
one  was  killed  ''  a  short  time  since  "  and  others  were  seen  according 
to  S.  Jillson  prior  to  1870;*  Plymouth,  one  was  shot  on  July  5, 
1890,  which  had  been  seen  on  the  2nd  of  July,  and  on  the  farm  of 
Thomas  Jackson  there  was  one  seen  eight  years  previous  to  the 
capture  of  this  bird.'^ 

'  Boston  Eve.  Trans.,  No.  19,  328,  Oct  19,  1893,  p.  10. 

^  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  640,  p.  41  of  separate. 

3  S.  K.,  Jr. ;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  VII,  No.  12,  Oct.  26,  1876,  p.  186. 

^  Putnam  ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  223. 

^  AWenJide  Verrill ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  81. 

^  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  646,  p.  47  of  separate. 

7  Hathaway;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  7,  July,  1890,  p.  102. 


Annotated  List   of    Species 


6i 


i6o.     Cathartes  aura  (Linn.).     Turkey  Vulture. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are  :  Massachusetts^ 
two  taken,  in  1863  ;  ^  Waltham,  one  seen  in  August,  1867  ;  ^  Annis- 
quam,  a  bird  in  young  plumage  was  shot  on  September  14,  1886  ;3 
West  Falmouth,  a  female  was  taken  September  9,  1888;*  Boston 
Harbour,  Thompson's  Island,  a  female  taken  May  30,  1889  ;®  Essex, 
one  taken  November  16,  1889,  and  now  in  the  collection  of  East 
India  Marine  Hall,  Salem  ;  ^  Williamstown,  one  taken  January  9, 
1 89 1,  by  Alfred  J.  Rowell,  and  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Brewster;"^  Weston,  one  taken  alive  early  in  April,  1893;^ 
Somerville,  three  were  seen  on  September  25,  1898,  by  Mr.  F. 
H.  Hosmer.^ 

161.     Circus  hudsonius  (Linn.).     Marsh  Hawk. 
A  common   summer  resident,  and  spring  and  autumn  migrant, 
occurring  rarely  in  winter. 

(January,   February)    March   15  to  November   19    (December 

31). 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Not  rare 
summer  resident  in  the  low  country."  Bristol  County:  "Common 
summer  resident,  more  common  migrant  and  recorded  in  winter." 
Brookline :  "Not  uncommon  migrant,  and  rare  summer  resident." 
Cambridge:  Common  transient  visitant ;  a  few  breed.  Cohasset :  "  Com- 
mon resident."  Dedham  :  "  Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer 
visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  **  Common  summer  resident."  Martha's 
Vineyard:  Common  summer  resident.  Springfield:  "Common  spring 
and  autumn  visitor."  Rare  summer  resident.  Templeton  :  "  Common 
during  the  summer."  Wellesley  :  "Not  uncommon  summer  resident; 
most  numerous  in  migrations." 


1  Samuels ;  Agric.  Mass.  Sec'y's  Report,  1863,  p.  xviii,  p.  3  of'separate. 
'  Maynard;  Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  137. 

3  White ;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XI,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1886,  p.  157. 

4  Mason  ;  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1888,  p.  78. 
^O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  6,  June,  1889,  p.  95. 

8  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1890,  p.  204.  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXXIV, 
Apr.  24,  1890,  p.  268. 

'  Faxon  &  Hoffmann  ;  Birds  of  Berkshire,  1900,  pp.  144,  145,  pp.  38,  39/ of 
separate. 

8  White  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  No.  3,  July,  1894,  p.  250. 

"  Mackay ;  Auk,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1899,  p.  181. 


62  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

162.  Accipiter  atricapillus  (Wils.).     American  Goshawk. 
An  irregular  winter  visitant,  sometimes  common.     According  to 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  it  may  breed  in  the  western  part  of  the  State, 
where  individuals  have  been  seen,  and  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard 
records  a  pair  which  spent  the  summer  of  1868  at  Weston,  but 
he  was  unable  to  find  a  nest.  Large  flights  occurred  in  the 
winters  of  i859-'6o  and  i896-'97. 

October  20  to  February  5. 

Amherst  :  "  Not  rare  late  in  fall."  Berkshire  :  "Rare,  irregular  visit- 
ant." Bristol  County:  "Irregular  and  rather  rare  winter  visitant." 
Cambridge  :  Irregular  and  uncommon  winter  visitant.  Dedham  :  One 
instance.  Essex  County:  "Resident.  [?]  Rare."  Martha's  Vineyard: 
"A  rare  migrant."  Springfield:  "Irregular  winter  visitor  ....  not 
generally  common.  Templeton :  "Rare  winter  visitor."  Wellesley: 
"Irregular  visitor  in  fall  and  winter." 

163.  Accipiter  velox  (Wils.).     Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  uncommon  as  a  sum- 
mer resident  and  in  winter. 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Not  common  summer 
resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Permanent  resident,  rather  common  in 
summer;  common  on  migration,  few  in  winter."  Brookline:  "  Uncom- 
mon summer  and  winter  resident."  Common  migrant.  Cambridge : 
Common  transient  visitor,  rare  summer  resident,  uncommon  winter  resi- 
dent. Cohasset:  "Common  resident."  Dedham:  "Rather  common." 
Essex  County  :  "Resident.  Not  abundant."  Ipswich:  "Rather  com- 
mon." Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Uncommon  migrant  and  probable  summer 
resident."  Springfield:  "Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor."  Occa- 
sionally breed  ;  often  seen  in  winter.  Templeton  :  "  Common  summer 
resident.  Occasional  in  winter."  Wellesley:  "Rather  common  sum- 
mer resident,  ....  rare  winter  resident." 

164.  Accipiter  cooperii  (Bonap.).     Cooper's  Hawk. 

A  rather  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  uncom- 
mon summer  resident ;  rare  in  winter. 

Amherst :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Rare  summer 
resident."  Bristol  County :  "Permanent  resident,  common  in  summer, 
few  in  winter."  Brookline:  "Common  summer  resident  and  migrant." 
Cambridge  :  Common  transient  visitant,  not  uncommon  summer  resi- 
dent, rare  winter  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Rather  uncommon  resident." 
Dedham  :  "  Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Winter.  Very  rare."  Ipswich  : 
"Uncommon."       Martha's    Vineyard:     "Common    summer    resident." 


Annotated   List   of    Species  63 

Springfield:  "  Tolerably  common  .summer  resident."  "Numerous  dur- 
ing migrations."  "  Rare  in  winter."  Templeton  :  "Not  very  common 
summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Rather  .common  summer  resident  .... 
sometimes  winters." 

165.  Buteo   swainsoni  Bonap.     Swainson's  Hawk. 
Accidental  from  the  west.     The  records  are  :     Salem,  one  was 

killed  in  the  winter  of  i87i-'72  and  is  now  in  the  Peabody  Acad- 
emy collection  ;  ^  Wayland,  a  young  male  was  captured  Septem- 
ber 12,  1876,  and  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  William  Brewster;  ^ 
Essex,  one  was  killed  May  29,  1892,  and  also  in  the  collection  of 
Mr.  William  Brewster. 3 

166.  Buteo  borealis  (Gmel.).     Red-tailed  Hawk. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  winter  resi- 
dent, occurring  as  an  uncommon  summer  resident  in  heavily 
wooded  localities. 

Amherst:  "'Common  resident."  Berkshire:  "Not  rare  permanent 
resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Uncommon  permanent  resident."  Cam- 
bridge :  Common  winter  visitant,  a  few  in  summer.  Cohasset  : 
"  Rather  rare,  April  and  May."  Dedham  :  "  Common."  Essex  County: 
"Resident.  Common."  Ipswich  :"  Uncommon."  Martha's  Vineyard : 
"  Summer  resident."  Springfield  :  "  Abundant  migrant,  ....  tolerably 
common  summer,  and  rare  winter  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Resident 
....  more  common  in  winter."  Wellesley  :  "  Common  in  spring  migra- 
tion, April,  less  common  resident." 

167.  Buteo  lineatus  (Gmel.).     Red-shouldered  Hawk. 
A  common  permanent  resident.* 

Amherst:  "Common  resident."  Berkshire:  "Not  uncommon  per- 
manent resident."  Bristol  County  :  "Permanent  resident,  common  in 
summer,  less  so  in  winter."  Brookline  :  "  Common  permanent  resi- 
dent." Cambridge  :  Common  permanent  resident,  less  cornmon  in  win- 
ter. Cohasset:  "Abundant  resident."  Dedham:  "Rather  common." 
Essex  County:  "Winter.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Uncommon." 
Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Common  resident."  Springfield:  "Very  common 
summer  but  rare   winter   resident."       Templeton  :     "  Common    summer 

1  Allen  ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  X,  1878,  p.  22. 

2  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1878,  pp.  39,  40. 
^  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  X,  No.  i,  Jan  .,  1893,  P-  ^~- 

*  Kennard;  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  No.  3,  July,  1894,  pp.  197-210. 


64  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

resident."     Wellesley  :    "  Common  summer  resident ;    rather  common  in 
winter." 

168.  Buteo  platypterus  (Vieill.).     Broad-winged  Hawk. 
A  rare  summer  resident  and  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn 

migrant. 

April  12  to  September. 

Amherst:  Recorded.  Berkshire:  "Rare  summer  resident."  Bristol 
County:  "Uncommon  summer  resident."  Brookline  :  "A  rare  or 
uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge  :  Transient  visitant,  sometimes  com- 
mon in  September  ;  rare  in  spring.  Dedham :  "Two  taken  and  nest 
found."  Essex  County :"  Winter.  Rare."  [.^].  Springfield:  "Breeds 
regularly  and  commonly  in  the  mountains  west  of  Westfield  ;  rare  in  the 
river  towns  during  the  spring  and  autumn."  Templeton  :  "  Summer 
resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Scarce  visitant  in  spring  and  fall,  and  occa- 
sional summer  resident." 

169.  Aquila  chrysaetos  (Linn.).     Golden  Eagle. 

A  very  rare  permanent  resident  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State,  but  a  very  rare  visitor  in  the  eastern  portions.  It  has  been 
taken  at  the  following  localities:  Brighton,  Fairhaven,  Lanes- 
boro,  Lexington,  Lynn,  Lynnfield,  Monson,  Paxton,  Salem,  Wey- 
mouth, Westfield,  and  Williamstown. 

Berkshire  :  "  A  vei'y  rare  permanent  resident."  Essex  County  :  "Resi- 
dent.    Rare."  [?] 

170.  Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis  (Gmel.).  Amer- 
ican Rough-legged  Hawk. 

A  local,  but  not  uncommon  winter  visitant  along  the  coast  and 
in  the  Connecticut  valley. 

(October)  November  2  to  April  13. 
Amherst:  "Abundant  ....  winter  resident."  Berkshire:  "A  rare 
spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  probably  winter  resident."  Bristol 
County :  "  Winter  visitant,  one  instance,  March."  Brookline :  "  Rare 
spring  migrant."  Cambridge:  Not  uncommon  transient  visitant ;  a  few 
winter.  Dedham:  "Two  instances."  Essex  County:  "Winter.  Com- 
mon." Ipswich:  One  instance.  Springfield:  "Common  winter  visi- 
tant."    Wellesley:  "  Rare  migrant  and  winter  visitant." 

171.  Haliseetus  leucocephalus  (Linn.).     Bald  Eagle. 

A  rare  resident  in  the  western  portions  of  the  State,  and  an 
occasional  visitant  at  all  seasons  to  the  eastern  portions  and  along 
the  coast. 


Annotated  List   of   Species  65 

Amherst:  "Occasionally  seen."  Berkshire:  "  A  rare  summer  resi- 
dent." Bristol  County:  "  Rare  and  irregular  summer  visitant."  Brook- 
line:  "Avery  rare  migrant."  Cambridge:  "Of  irregular  occurrence  at 
all  seasons."  Dedham  :  "Two  instances."  Essex  County:  "Resident. 
Common."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  One  seen."  Springfield :"  Rather  un- 
common transient  visitor  in  the  spring,  summer  and  autumn,  and  rare  in 
the  winter."  Templeton:  "  Not  uncommon  during  the  fall  migrations." 
A  pair  probably  bred  in  Winchendon  in  1887.  Wellesley:  "Rare  tran- 
sient visitant." 

172.  Elanoides  forficatus  (Linn.) .     Swallow-tailed  Kite. 
Accidental  from  the  west.     There    are   two   records  :•  Whately, 

one  seen  near  this  town  prior  to  1870;^  Amesbui'y\^  {z^zWest 
Newbury  3) ,  one  taken  near  the  Merrimac  River,  on  or  about  Sep- 
tember 25,  1882. 

173.  Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Bonap.).     Duck  Hawk. 

A  rare  summer  resident,  and  uncommon  migrant  along  the 
coast,  near  which  it  is  rare  in  winter.  It  is  well  known  to  breed 
on  Mt.  Tom,  as  also  on  Mts.  Holyoke,  Toby  and  Sugarloaf,  and 
probably  on  other  of  the  western  mountains. 

Amherst:  "Breeds  on  Mt.  Tom."  Berkshire:  "Very  rare  summer 
resident."  Bristol  County:  "One  instance."  Cambridge:  Rare  tran- 
sient visitant,  casual  in  winter.  Cohasset:  "One  found  dead."  Essex 
County:  "Fall  and  winter.  Very  rare."  Ipswich:  "One  instance." 
Springfield:  "  Rare  summer  resident." 

174.  Falco  columbarius  Linn.     Pigeon  Hawk. 

An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Casual  in  winter. 
Notwithstanding  statements  to  the  contrary,  there  is  no  authentic 
record  of  the  nesting  of  this  bird  in  Massachusetts. 

Winter;  April  10  to  May  16;   September  15  to  November  24. 

Amherst:  "Rare  and  uncertain  winter  visitor."  Berkshire:  Tran- 
sient visitor.  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  and  irregular  transient 
A^isitant."  Brookline :  "Not  uncommon  migrant.  Sometimes  seen  in 
■winter."      Cambridge  :    Common   transient  visitant,  occasional   in  win- 

*  Allen  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  645,  pp.  46,  47  of  sep- 
arate. 

^Chadbourne;  Quart.  Journ.  Bost.  Z06I.  Soc,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1883, 
p.  16. 

^  Coues  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Cm.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1883,  p.  61. 


S6  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

ter.  Dedham  :  "  Rather  common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant. 
Common."  [Doubtless  an  error.]  Springfield:  "Rare  spring  and 
autumn  visitor."  Templeton :  "Rare  summer  resident"  [  ?].  Welles- 
ley:  "  Scarce  migrant  ....  occasional  in  winter." 

175.  Falco  rusticolus  obsoletus  (Gmel.).    Black  Gyrfal- 

CON. 

An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  tenable  records :  Ipswich^  a  male  was  shot  November 
7,  1874,  and  is  now  in  the  Peabody  Academy  at  Salem;  ^  Breed's 
Island^  Boston  Harbour,  one  was  taken  in  October,  1876,  and  is 
now  in  the  Field  Columbian  Museum  at  Chicago ;  ^  Ipswich^  a  fe- 
male was  captured  March  11,  1893.3 

176.  Falco  rusticolus   gyrfalco(Linn.).     Gyrfalcon. 

An  extremely  rare  winter  visitor  from  the  north.  The  following 
are  the  only  tenable  records  :  Northamptofi^  one  was  taken  by 
Mr.  E.  O.  Damon,  in  February,  i88o;*  Stowe,  a  male  was  taken 
in  188 T,  and  wrongly  referred  to  7^  r.  obsoletus-,^  Melrose  (or 
near  Lynn),  a  male  was  shot  January  i,  1891.^  This  and  the 
Stowe  specimen  are  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  William  Brewster, 
and  the  Northampton  bird  is  in  the  Science  Building  at  Spring- 
field. 

177.  Falco  tinnunculus  Linn.     Kestrel. 

Accidental  from  the  Old  World.  The  only  record  is:  Nantas- 
ket  Beach^  a  female  was  shot  at  Strawberry  Hill,  September  29, 
1889,  by  F.  H.  Brackett.' 

178.  Falco  sparverius  Linn.     American  Sparrow  Hawk. 
An  uncommon  summer  resident ;  a  few  remain  throughout  the 

winter. 


1  Purdie;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1879,  P-  i^9- 

^  Cory;  ibid.^  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  27. 

3  Vickary ;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  4,  Apr.,  1893,  P-  S^- 

^  Vennor;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XIV,  Apr.  15,  1880,  p.  204. 

5  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1883,  p.  184,  and 
Brewster;  Minot's  Land  and  Game  Birds,  2d  ed.,  1895,  p.  479. 

6  Tufts  ;   O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  4,  Apr.,  1891,  p.  61. 

'  Cory;  Auk,   Vol.  ,V,    No.  i,   Jan.,  1888,  pp.    no,  and  ibid.,  No.   2,   Apr., 
1888,  p.  205. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  6? 

Winter;  February  to  March  i8;   Summer,  to  November  14. 

Amherst:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Not  very  rare 
summer  resident."  Brookhne  :  "  Uncommon  summer  resident."  Cam- 
bridge :  Common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  One  instance. 
Dedham  :  "  Very  rare  ;  one  taken."  Essex  County  :  "  Spring  and  autumn. 
Rare.''  Ipswich:  "A  few  seen  eacli  summer."  Martha's  Vineyard: 
"  Summer  resident,  rare."  Springfield  :  "  Summer  resident,  not  uncom- 
mon in  winter."  Templeton :  "Summer  resident,  not  common." 
Wellesley  :   "  Scarce  summer  resident  ....  rarely  winters." 

179.    Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  (Gmel.).     American 

OSPREY. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  common  but  very 
local  summer  resident  in  Bristol  County.  It  is  said  to  have  for- 
merly bred  at  Ipswich. 

(March  16)  April  3  to  November  11. 

Amherst:  "  Common  spring  migrant  in  Hadlev."  Berkshire:  "Rather 
common  transient  visitant  in  the  spring  and  autumn  ....  seen  as  late  as 
June  II."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident.  Swansea  and 
Rehoboth."  Brookline  :  "  Uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge  :  Common 
transient  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Rare."  Dedham:  "  Often  seen,"  Essex 
County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  Formerly  bred. 
"One  seen  in  summer  of  1897."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Transient;  com- 
mon." Springfield:  "Common  during  the  spring  and  autumn  migra- 
tions." Often  seen  during  the  summer,  but  not  known  to  breed.  Tem- 
pleton:  "  Common  during  the  migrations."  Wellesley:  "Not  uncom- 
mon migrant." 

J 80.  Asio  wilsonianus  (Less.).  American  Long-eared 
Owl. 

An  uncommon  permanent  resident. 

Amherst:  "  Uncommon  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Permanent  resident." 
Bristol  County  :  "  Uncommon  permanent  resident."  Brookline  :  "  Rare 
local  resident  just  outside  town  boundaries."  Cambridge  :  Not  com- 
mon permanent  resident.  Dedham:  "  Not  rare."  Essex  County  :"  Fall 
and  winter.  Rare."  Ipswich:  One  instance,  November.  Springfield: 
''Tolerably  common  resident."  Templeton:  "Common  resident." 
Wellesley:  "Not  uncommon  resident." 

181.     Asio  accipitrinus  (Pall.).     Short-eared  Owl. 
A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  particularly  along  the 
coast  and  in    the    Connecticut   Vallev ;  rare  in  winter.     It  is   a 


68  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

local  summer  resident  on  Martha's  Vineyard,  Muskeget  Island 
prior  to  1896,  and  Longmeadow,  near  Springfield. 

March  27  to  November  20  ;  Winter  (four  records,  December 
31,  January  i,  February  12  and  2;^). 

Amherst:  "  Very  rare."  Berkshire:  "  Two  records."  Bristol  County  : 
"Rare  transient  visitant."  Cambridge:  Uncommon  transient  visitant. 
Cohasset  :  "Not  uncommon  in  October  and  November."  Dedham :  '"One 
instance."  Essex  County  :  "Winter.  Not  abundant."  Ipswich  :"  Rather 
comm.on  winter  visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard:  Breeds.  Springfield: 
"  Common  spring  and  autumn  visitant.  During  open  winter  a  number 
stay occasionally  breeds.     Wellesley  :  "  Rare  migrant." 

182.  Bubo  virginianus  (GmeL).     Great  Horned  Owl. 

An  uncommon  permanent  resident  along  the  coast,  and  not 
uncommon  in  heavily  wooded  localities  inland. 

Amherst :  "  Common  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Rare  permanent  resi- 
dent." Bristol  County  :  ''Uncommon  permanent  resident."  Brookline  : 
*'  Formerly  a  rare  summer  resident,  now  uncommonly  met  with  in  win- 
ter." Cambridge:  "Occasional  at  all  seasons."  Cohasset:  "Occasion- 
ally seen,  usually  in  winter."  Dedham  :  "  Not  rare."  Breeds.  Essex 
County:  "Resident.  Not  abundant."  Springfield:  "  Cornmon  resi- 
dent." Templeton  :"  Common  resident."  Wellesley:  "  Not  very  un- 
common resident." 

183.  Bubo  virginianus  subarcticus  (Hoy).  Western 
Horned  Owl. 

Accidental  from  the  west.  There  is  but  one  record  :  JVa/f/iam, 
a  typical  female  specimen  was  taken  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  and 
is  now  in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Compara- 
tive Zoology^  (No.  8336); 

184.  Nyctea  nyctea  (Linn.).     Snowy  Owl. 

An  irregular,  but  sometimes  not  uncommon  visitant,  particularly 
along  the  coast.  An  unusual  flight  occurred  in  the  winter  of 
1876-77.* 

(October  12)   October  28  to  April  15    (May  20). 

*  Morse  ;   Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  23. 

*  Deane;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan,.  1877,  PP-  9-H- 


Annotated  List  of  Species  6o 

Amherst :  "  Winter  visitor,  occasional."  Berkshire  :  •'  Rare  and  irreg- 
ular winter  visitant."  Bristol  County:  ''  Rare  and  irregular  w^inter  visit- 
ant." Brookline :  "  An  accidental  visitant."  Cambridge :  A  rare  and 
irregular  winter  visitant.  Cohasset:  Two  instances.  Essex  County: 
"  Winter.  Common."  Ipswich  :  Recorded.  Martha's  Vineyard  :  Some- 
times taken.  Springfield  :  "  Rare  winter  visitor."  Templeton  :  "  Rare 
Avinter  visitor."     Wellesley  :  "  Rare  and  irregular  migrant." 

185.  Megascops  asio  (Linn.).     Screech  Owl. 
A  common  permanent  resident. 

Amherst:  "Common."  Berkshire:  "Not  rare  permanent  resident." 
Bristol  County :  "Common  permanent  resident."  Brookline:  "Com- 
mon permaneat  resident."  Cambridge:  "  Common  permanent  resident." 
Cohasset:  "  Common  resident."  Dedham  :  "  Common  resident."  Essex 
County:  "Resident.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Common  permanent  res- 
ident." Martha's  Vineyard:  "Uncommon  resident."  Springfield: 
"Abundant  resident."  Templeton:  "Resident.  Not  uncommon."  Wel- 
lesley :  "  Common  resident." 

186.  Syrnium  nebulosum  (Forst.).     Barred  Owl. 

An  uncommon  resident,  sometimes  common  in  the  autumn  dur- 
ing the  migrations. 

Amherst :"  Regular  winter  resident."  Berkshire:  "Not  uncommon, 
permanent  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Rather  common  permanent  res- 
ident." Brookline:  "Uncommon  winter  visitant."  Cambridge:  Rare 
permanent  resident,  sometimes  common  in  November  and  December. 
Cohasset:  "Rather  rare  resident."  Dedham:  "Occasionally  found." 
Essex  County  :"  Resident.  Common."  Springfield:  "  Rather  uncommon 
resident,  occasionally  quiet  numerous  in  late  autumn."  Templeton  : 
"  Common  resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Rare  resident,  less  uncommon  fall 
migrant." 

187.  Scotiaptex  cinerea  (Gmel).     Great  Gray  Owl. 

A  very  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The  seventeen 
records  are  :  Marblehead,  one  in  Februar}',  183 1  ;^  Marblehead, 
one  in  January,  1835;'^  near  Boston,  two  in  1839;*^  Massachu- 
setts^ seven  about  the  winter,  1842-43;  3  Cambridge^  one  in 
1847;*    Wenham^OYi^m  February,   1859;^    Seekonk,   one    about 

i  Putnam ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  204. 

2 Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870.  p.  570,  p.  16  of  separate. 

3 Cabot;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  1844,  p.  99. 

<  Cabot;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  II,  1848,  p.  206. 

^Maynard;  Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  130. 


^O  Birds  of    Massachusetts 

1864,  now  in  the  Brown  University  collection  ;  ^  Salem ^  one  Nov- 
ember 10,  1866;^.  Lyn?i,  one  in  the  winter  of  1872  ;3  Agawam, 
one  on  February  25,  1882  ;^  Sherbow'Jie,  one  "many  years  ago," 
(prior  to  1884)  ;  ^  Milton,  one  in  winter  of  1890-91  ;  ^  Princehm, 
one,  February  28,  1891:^  Blandford^  one,  March  4,  1896;^ 
Westjield,  "  many  years  ago"  (prior  to  1896);^  Northampton,  one 
taken  prior  to  1901.^ 

November  10  to  March  4, 

188.  Cryptoglaux  tengmalmi  richardsoni  (Bonap.).  Rich- 
ardson's  Owl. 

An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The  definite 
records  are:  Springfield,  one  in  December,  1859;^°  West  Ded- 
ham,  one  taken  in  1862  ;  ^^  Lynn,  one  shot  in  1863,  according  to 
Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  who  also  saw  two  others  recently  killed  in  the 
State ;  ^^  Cambridge,  at  Mount  Auburn,  one  taken  in  December, 
1865  ;  ^*  Newton,  a  female,  February  26,  1879;^^  Seekonk,  a  male, 
December  18,  1882  ;  ^^  Zj^;?;/,  one  taken  Februar3^4,  1882  ;  ^^  Fram- 
ingham,  one  taken  January  i,  1885  ;  "  Brockton^  one,  November 
29,  1888;^^  Peahody,  one  found  dead  February  2,  1889;^^  Mai- 
den^ one  said  to  be   in   collection  of   Comparative  Zoology. ^^ 

November  29  to  February  26.  Vlv^xS'.v  . 

1  Editors;  Rand.  Notes  on  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  No,  7,  July,  1884,  p.  3. 

2  Allen  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  570,  p.  16  of  separate. 

3  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway;  Land  Birds,  Vol.  HI,  1874,  p.  32. 

-» Allen;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1883,  p.  123. 

^Stearns  &  Coues;  New  Eng.  Bird  Life,  Vol.  II,  p.  93. 

®  Minot ;  Land  and  Game  Birds  of  New  Eng.  1877,  p.  331. 

7  Churchill ;  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1891,  p.    313. 

**  Morris;  ibid..  Vol.  XIV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1897,  p.  100. 

^Morris;  Birds  of  Springfield,  1901,  p.  22. 

i^Allen  ;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  71. 

11  Wakefield  ;  Birds  of  Dedham,  1891,  p.  71. 

12  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  P'eb.,  1870,  p.  646,  p.  47,48  of  separate. 
i^Maynard;  Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  133. 

i"*  Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  1879,  p.  272. 

i»  Jenks  ;   Bull   Nutt.  Orn.  Club.  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1883,  p.  122. 

16  Smith;    Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XX,  May  10,  1883,  p.  285. 

17  Browne;    Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  4,  Oct.,    1885,  p.  384. 

18 Editor  ;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  12,  Dec,  1888,  p.  191. 
19  Welch ;  /^/o'.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  Feb.,  1889,  p.  30. 


Annotated   List   of   Species  ^I 

189.  Cryptoglaux  acadica  (Gmel.) .     Acadian  Owl. 

An  irregular,  uncommon  winter  visitant,  and  rare  local  summer 
resident.  It  has  been  found  to  breed  at  Braintree,  Dunstable, 
Pleasant  Lake  on  Cape  Cod,  Pl3'mouth  County,  Tyngsboro,  Ware- 
ham  and  Winchester."*^ 

Amherst  :  One  instance,  October,  Berkshire:  "Rare,  chiefly  as  a  win- 
ter visitant.  A  few  without  doubt  breed."  Bristol  County  :  "  Rare,  and 
irregular  winter  visitor."  Brookhne  :  "  Uncommon  winter  visitant." 
Cambridge:       Not    uncommon    winter    visitant.  Dedham  :     "Rare." 

Essex  County  :  "  Resident.  Rare."  Springfield  :  "  Rather  uncommon 
winter  visitor;  probably  breeds  here  occasionally."  Templeton  :  "  Rare 
winter  visitor."  Wellesley  :  "  Scarce  fall  and  winter  visitant,  ....  per- 
haps rarely  resident. 

190.  Surnia  ulula  caparoch  (Milll.).  American  Hawk 
Owl. 

A  very  rare  and  irregular  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The 
records  are  :  WilHamstow/i^  one  taken  prior  to  1858  ;  ^  Frami7ig- 
ham^  one  taken,  January  1860;^  Natick^  one  shot  about  1862  : 3 
Roxhury^  one  taken  in  1867  ;  3  Westfield^  five  in  the  autumn  of 
1867  ;  3  Chatham^  one  in  the  winter  of  i883-'84  ;  *  Hadley^  two 
taken  in  March,  1884  ;  ^  Lyn?i,  one  shot  prior  to  1885  ;  ^  Middle- 
boro,  one  taken  on  November  29,  1886;''^  Winchendon^  three  shot 
in  the  winter  of  i886-'87,  and  one  in  winter  of  i887-'88 ;  ^  Sand- 
wich, o\i^  taken  March  25,  1890;^  Northampton^  ox^&  shot  prior 
to  1901.10 

191.  Speotyto  cunicularia  hypogaea  (Bonap.).  Burrow- 
ing Owl. 

Accidental  from  the  west.     There  is  but    one  record :      New- 

*  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  3,  July,  1881,  pp.  143-145, 
and  ibid..   Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1882,  pp.  22-25. 

iChadbourne,  Birds  of  Williamstown,  1888,  p.  35.7. 

2  Browne;    Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  2,  Apr.,   1885,  p.  220. 

^  Allen  ;    Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.  1870,  p.  569,  p.  16  of  separate. 

"Allen;   Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1885,  p.  383. 

^Clark;    Birds  of  Amherst,  1887,  p.  48. 

«  W[ebster]  ;    O.  &  O.  Vol.  X,  No.  2,  Feb.,  1885,  p.  32. 

'Editor;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  12,  Dec,  1888,  p.  191. 

8 Brewster;   Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct.  1888,  p.  390. 

^Frazar;    Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXXIV,  No.  14,  Apr.  24,  1890,  p.  268. 

1° Morris;    Birds  of  Springfield,  1901,  p.  22. 


^  2  I  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

buryport^  one  taken  by  H.  Joyce  and  J.  K.  Clifford  on  May  5^ 
1875,  The  specimen  is  now  in  the  mounted  collection  of  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.^ 

192.  Strix  pratincola  Bonap.     American  Barn  Owl. 

An  accidental  visitor  from  the  south,  The  records  are:  Lynn^ 
one  taken  by  Mr.  James  Teal  about  1863  f  Springfield^  one  taken 
the  last  of  May,  1868  ;  3  Dover,  one  taken  prior  to  1886  and  now 
in  the  Wellesley  College  Museum  collection ;  *  South  Westport, 
a  male  taken  by  C.  T.  Wood,  December  30,  1888,  at  Horse 
Neck ;  ^  Worcester^  a  female  taken  by  Chester  A.  Reed  on  May 
23,  1 89 1,  now  in  Mr.  William  Brewster's  collection  and  labelled  a 
male. 

193.  Ceryle  alcyon  (Linn.).     Belted  Kingfisher. 
A  common  summer  resident,  wintering  rarely. 
March  15  to  December  5,  (Winter). 

Amherst:  "  Rather  rare."  Berkshire:  "  Rather  common  summer  res- 
ident." Bristol  County  :  "Common  summer  resident."  Brookline  :  "  A 
permanent       resident."  Cambridge :       Common     summer    resident. 

Cohasset :  "  Common."  Dedham  :  "  Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Sum- 
mer visitant.  Common."  Ipswich :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Martha's  Vineyard:  "Resident,  common  in  summer."  Springfield: 
"  Common  summer  and  rare  winter  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Common 
summer  resident."     Wellesley:  "  Common  summer  resident." 

194.  Chordeiles  virginianus  (Gmel.).     Night  Hawk. 
A  common  summer  resident,  abundant  on  migrations. 
(March  18;   Stearns).     (April  7)  May  9  to  October  6. 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :*' Not  common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "Rare  transient  visitant."  Brook- 
line:  "Common  migrant."  Cambridge:  Not  uncommon  summer  resi- 
dent. Cohasset:  "Rather  rare."  Dedham:  "Rather  common."  Essex 
County:  "Summer  visitant.     Common."     Ipswich:  "Uncommon    sum- 


iDeane;  Rod  &  Gun,  Vol.  VI,  May  15,  1875,  P-  97- 

2 Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  646,  p.  47  of  separate. 

^CouesyiV/^  Allen;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  V,  1868,  p.  312. 

"*  Morse  ;    The  Observer,  Portland,  Conn.,  Apr.,  1896,  p.  139. 

° Brewster;    Auk,    Vol.  VII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1890,  p.  205. 

6  Reed ;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  6,  June,  1892,  p.  92. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  ^ 'i 

mer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Rather  uncommon  migrant." 
Springfield  :  "  Very  common  summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Common 
summer  resident."    Wellesley:   "  Local  summer  resident." 

195.  Antrostomus  vociferus    (VVils.) .      Whip-poor-will. 
A  common  summer  resident,  somewhat  restricted  to  dry  woods 

at  low  altitudes.  Rather  rare  near  the  coast. 
(April  22)  May  i  to  September  25. 
Amherst:  "  Not  uncommon  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Summer 
resident.  Not  rare  in  some  parts  of  the  county."  Bristol  County : 
"  Common  summer  resident."  Brookline  :  "  Uncommon  migrant  and 
summer  resident."  Cambridge :  Common  summer  resident.  Cohas- 
set :  "Rather  rare."  Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex  County  :"  Sum- 
mer visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "One  noted."  Martha's  Vine- 
yard: "Common  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Common  summer 
resident."  Templeton:  "Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley: 
"  Common  summer  resident." 

196.  Antrostomus    carolinensis    (Gmel.) .     Chuck-will's- 

WIDOW. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  One  record :  Revere^  one  found 
dead  in  a  barn  in  December,  1884.  It  was  probably  caught  by  a 
cat  in  October  of  that  year.^  The  bird  is  now  in  the  unmounted 
collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology    (No.    33004). 

197.  Chaetura  pelagica  (Linn.).     Chimney  Swift. 
An  abundant  summer  resident. 

(April  19)  April  26  to  September  25  (October  2). 

Amherst:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant  sum- 
mer resident.  Cohasset:  "Numerous."  Dedham:  "Very  common." 
Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Abundant 
summer  resident.'^  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  summer  resident.  ' 
Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Abundant 
summer  resident,"     Wellesley:  "  Abundant  summer  resident." 

198.  Trochilus  colubris  Linn.  Ruby-throaied  Hum- 
mingbird. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  rather  common 
summer  resident. 

1  Osgood  ;    Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1S85,  p.  220. 


74 


Birds  of  Massachusetts 


(May  i)  May  6  to  September  23  (October  15). 
Amherst:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Fairly  common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Uncommon 
summer  resident.  Cohasset  :  "  Not  very  common."  Dedham  :  "  Com- 
mon." Essex  County:  "Summer  resident.  Common."  Ipswich  : 
*' Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Common  summer 
resident."  Springfield  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Templeton  : 
*'  Common  summer  resident."   "Wellesley  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 

199.  Coccyzus  americanus  (Linn.).  Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo. 

An  irregularly  common  summer  resident,  in  tiie  southern  por- 
tions of  the  State,  but  rare  in  the  northern  portions. 
(May  4)  May  9  to  September  26  (November). 

Amherst:"  Uncommon  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Rather  rare 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Rather  common  summer  resi- 
dent." Brookline  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Com- 
mon summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Numerous."  Dedham  :  "  Toler- 
ably common."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Uncommon  summer  resident." 
Springfield  :  "  Irregular  summer  resident."  Wellesley :  "  Not  scarce 
summer  resident." 

200.  Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus  (Wils.).  Black-billed 
Cuckoo. 

A  common  summer  resident. 

May  8  to  September  27  (October  21). 

Amiherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Rather  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County :  "  Rather  common  summer 
resident."  Brookline  :"  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Com- 
mon summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "Numerous."  Dedham:  "Com- 
mon." Essex  County:  "Summer  resident.  Common."  Ipswich: 
"Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Uncommon  sum- 
mer resident."  Springfield:  "Common  and  regular  summer  resident." 
Templeton:  "  Common  in  summer."  ^A^ellesley  :  "Common  summer 
resident." 

201.  Colaptes  auratus  luteus  Bangs.    Northern  Flicker. 

A  very  common  summer  resident,  and  wintering  not  uncom- 
monly near  the  coast,  and  in  the  valleys  of  the  southern  part  of 
the  State. 

March  13  to  November  30  ;  Winter. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  yc 

Amherst  :  "Common  summer  resident,"  Berkshire:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Permanent  resident,  abundant  in  sum- 
mer." Brookline  :  "A  permanent  resident,  not  uncommon  in  the  winter, 
abundant  in  the  summer."  Cambridge:  Very  common  summer  resident, 
common  winter  resident.  Cohasset:  "  Numerous  all  the  year."  Ded- 
ham  :  "  Common  resident."  Essex  County:  "Resident.  Common." 
Ipswich  :  "Abundant  permanent  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Com- 
mon resident."  Springfield :  "  Abundant  summer  resident,  a  few  re- 
maining during  the  winter."  Templeton  :  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Wellesley  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 

202.  Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (Linn.).  Red-headed 
Woodpecker. 

An  irregular  visitant  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and  occasionally 
common  in  autumn.  It  has  been  known  to  breed  rarely  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  State,  where  the  latest  definite  record  is  at  Aga- 
wam  in  1889.^  It  occurred  near  Boston  in  unusual  numbers  in  the 
autumn  of  'i 881. 

Amherst:  "Very  rare."  Berkshire:  "Very  rare  summer  resident." 
Bristol  County  :  "  Rare  and  irregular  straggler."  Brookline  :  "An  irreg- 
ular visitant."  Cambridge:  Irregular  at  all  seasons,  sometimes  common 
in  fall.  Dedham :  "One  taken  in  August,  1881."  Essex  County: 
"  Spring  and  autumn.  Very  rare."  Martha's  Vineyard :  "  Rare." 
Springfield :  "  Irregular  and  rather  rare  visitor.  Has  been  known  to 
breed."  Templeton:  "  Rare  straggler."  Wellesley:  "  Scarce  and  irreg- 
ular fall  and  winter  resident." 

203.  Melanerpes  carolinus  (Linn.).  Red-bellied  Wood- 
pecker. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are  :  Spri?igfield^  one 
seen  May  13,  1863  ;  '^  Newton,  a  pair  seen,  and  the  female  shot  by 
Mr.  William  Adair,  November  25,  1880;  3  Cohasset^  a  male  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Matthew  Luce,  Jr.,  on  May  28,  1881;*  Clinton,  a 
male  seen  July  17,  1896.^ 

204.  Sphyrapicus  varius  (Linn.).  Yellow-bellied  Sap- 
sucker. 

A  fairly  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  in  Berkshire 

1  Morris  ;  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1889,  p.  340. 

2  Allen;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  53. 

3  Plummer;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1S81,  p.  120. 
*  Brewster;  ibid.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  3,  July,  1881,  p.  183. 

^Farmer;   Osprey,  Vol.  I,  No.  3,  Nov.,  1896,  p.  39. 


^6  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

County,  a  very  rare  summer  resident.  An  immature  male  win- 
tered in  Brookline  in  1895.^ 

April  4  to  May  6  ;  (Summer);  September  15  to  October  23  ;  (Win- 
ter). 

Amherst:  "Rare."  Berkshire:  "Very  rare  summer  resident.  Com- 
mon during  the  migration  time."  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  tran- 
sient visitant."  Brookline:  "  Common  migrant."  Once  in  winter.  Cam- 
bridge :  Not  common  transient  visitant.  Cohasset :  "  Less  common  than 
formerly."  Dedham :  "  Rather  common  in  the  fall."  Essex  County : 
"Spring  and  fall.  Rather  rare."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Migrant." 
Springfield  :"  Tolerably  common  during  its  migrations."  Templeton  : 
"  Rare  migrant."     Wellesley:  "Scarce  migrant." 

205.  Dryobates  villosus  (Linn.).     Hairy  Woodpecker. 

A  summer  resident,  uncommon  locally,  more  common  as  a 
winter  resident.  In  Eastern  Massachusetts  they  breed  in  certaip 
parts  of  Plymouth  County  commonly,  and  at  Ponkapog  and  Nor- 
wood. 

Amherst:  "Uncommon  resident."  Berkshire:  "Not  uncommon  per- 
manent resident."  Bristol  County :  "Permanent  resident,  rare  in  sum- 
mer, rather  common  in  fall  and  winter."  Berkshire  :  "  Fairly  common 
migrant  and  winter  visitant."  Cambridge:  Uncommon  winter  visit- 
ant. Cohasset:  "Rare  in  October."  Dedham:  "Rare."  Essex 
County :"  October  to  May."  Ipswich:  "  Not  uncommon  in  spring  and 
fall."  Springfield  :  "  Rather  common  summer  and  winter  resident."  In 
fall  occasionally  numerous.  Templeton:  "  Common  resident."  Welles- 
ley  :  "  A  regular  and  usually  scarce  fall  and  winter  visitant,  rarely  a  sum- 
mer resident." 

206.  Dryobates  pubescens  medianus  (Swains.).  North- 
ern Downy  Woodpecker. 

A  common   permanent    resident,  less   often    seen    in    summer. 

Amherst:  "Common  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  permanent 
resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  permanent  resident."  Brook- 
line: "  Common  permanent  resident."  Cambridge :  Common  permanent 
resident.  Cohasset :"  Numerous  resident."  Dedham:  "Common  resi- 
dent." Essex  County  :  "  Common  in  all  but  the  summer  months." 
Ipswich:  "Common  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  resi- 
dent." Springfield  :  "  Common  winter  and  summer  resident."  Tem- 
pleton :    "Common   resident."     Wellesley:  "  Common  resident." 

*  Kennard;  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  3,  July,  1895,  PP-  3°^'  3°-' 


Annotated  List   of  Species  'in 

207.  Picoides  americanus  Brehm.  American  Three-toed 
Woodpecker. 

An  extremely  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The  records 
are  :  Boston  Market^  winter  of  1836  ;  ^  Lynn^  a  pair  taken  in  the 
winter  of  i86o-'6i,  and  a  female  taken  also  in  the  same  year  ; '^ 
Fitchburg^  Mr.  H.  L.  Piper  informs  us  that  he  shot  a  specimen  in 
a  dense  swamp  about  1895. 

208.  Picoides  arcticus  (Swains.).  Arctic  Three-toed 
Woodpecker. 

A  very  rare  late  autumn  and  winter  visitant  from  the  north. 
It  has  been  recorded  at  the  following  localities :  Attleboro,  Bev- 
erley, Dorchester,  Essex  Coi^ty,  Holbrook,  Hyde  Park,  Lynn, 
Middlesex  County,  Milton,  Mount  Nonotuck,  Plymouth,  Sher- 
bourne,  Sudbury,  Templeton,  Westfield,  West  Medford,  Winch- 
endon,  Woburn.  In  the  winter  of  i86o-'6i  a  large  flight  of 
these  birds  occurred,  and  at  Lynn  they  were  "  actually  abundant.'"**" 

(Last  of  September)  October  16  to  January  21 ;  ("  second  Sat- 
urday in  August"). 

Bristol  County:  "One  record,  Attleboro."  Essex  County:  "Fall. 
"S^ery  rare."  Springfield:  "Rare  winter  resident."  Wellesley :  "Very 
rare  fall  and  winter  visitant." 

209.  Ceophloeus  pileatus  abieticola  Bangs.  Northern 
Pileated  Woodpecker. 

A  very  rare  permanent  resident  in  Berkshire,  Hampden  and 
northern  Worcester  Counties.  Casual  elsewhere  in  the  State, 
having  been  noted  at  Manchester  in  December,  1885,  Boston 
Highlands,  July,  1883,  Ashfield  in  August  and  October,  1886, 
Mount  Toby  in  May,  1892,  Sherbourne  in  1894,  and  in  Plymouth, 
fresh  "peck-holes"  were  seen  in  a  heavy  cedar  swamp  in  1896. 
According  to  Mr.  F.  H.  Kennard,  two  birds,  apparently  of  this 
species,  were  seen  momentarily  in  Newton  in  1890. 

Amherst  :  "  Formerh'  occurred."  Berkshire  :  "  Very  rare  permanent 
resident."      Springfield:    "A   rare   resident."      Templeton:    "A   winter 

1  Baird,  Brewer,  &  Ridgway  ;  Land  Birds,  Vol.  II,  1874,  p.  534. 
^  Allen  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  572,  p.  19  of  separate, 
and  *  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Om.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1882,  p.  122. 


y8  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

visitor."     Wellesley:    "  A  very  rare  or  accidental    fall    and   winter   visit- 
ant."    (Sherbojirn^). 

210.  Empidonax  flaviventris  Baird.  Yellow-bellied 
Flycatcher. 

An  uncommon,  if  not  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

(May  lo)  May  15  to  June  10;  August  25  to  September  10; 
(November  29  at  Reading,  December  21  at  Newton  i). 

Amherst:  "Uncommon  migrant.""  Berkshire:  "Rare  spring  and 
(presumably)  autumn  transient  visitant."  Brookline :  "One  record, 
May  10."  Cambridge :  Transient  visitant,  sometimes  rather  common. 
Cohasset  :  "Occasional."  Springfield:  "Tolerably  common  spring  and 
autumn  visitant."  Templeton  :  "  Rare  during  the  migrations."  Welles- 
ley  :  "  Scarce  migrant." 

211.  Empidonax  vi^rescens  (Vieill.).  Green-crested  Fly- 
catcher. 

An  accidental  summer  resident.  One  instance:  Hyde  Park, 
a  "  nest  and  three  eggs  were  taken"  in  June,  1888,  by  Mr.  Fred. 
W.  Hill.  This  nest,  with  one  of  the  parent  birds  is  now  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  William  Brewster.^ 

212.  Empidonax  traillii  alnorum  Brewst.  Alder  Fly- 
catcher. 

A  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  summer  resident,  common  in 
the  western  and  higher  portions  of  the  State,  but  rare  and  local 
in  Eastern  Massachusetts,  where  it  has  been  known  to  breed  at 
Lynnfield,  and  has  been  found  in  summer  at  Purgatory  Swamp  in 
Norwood. 

May  16  to  June  i  ;  Summer ;  to  August  24. 

Amherst :  "  Uncommon  migrant,  and  possible  breeder."  Berkshire  : 
"  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Rare  transient  visitant. 
Springfield  :  "  Rare  summer  /resident  ....  in  extreme  western  part  of 
Hampden  and  Hampshire  Counties."  Wellesley  :  "  Rare  migrant." 

213.  Empidonax   minimus    Baird.       Least  Flycatcher. 
A  common,  if  not  abundant,  summer  resident. 

1  Allen;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1878,  pp.  loi,  102. 

2  Editor;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1888,  p.  160,  and  Brewster; 
Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,  P-  3°*^- 


Annotated   List   of   Species  ^0 

(April  22)   April  28  to  September  3  (mid-September). 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Brook- 
line  :  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant  summer 
resident.  Cohasset  :  "  Numerous."  Dedham  :  "  Abundant."  Essex 
County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton  : 
"Common  in  summer."     Wellesley  :    "Very  common  summer  resident." 

214.  Horizopus  virens  (Linn.).     Wood  Pewee. 
A  common  summer  resident. 

(May  10)  May  15  to  September  26  (October  i). 
Amherst :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Brook- 
line:  "Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Common  summer 
resident,  Cohasset:  "Common."  Dedham:  "Common."  Essex 
County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Common  summer 
resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Spring- 
field: "  Common  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Common  summer 
resident."     'Wellesley  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 

215.  Nuttallornis  borealis  (Swains.).  Olive-sided  Fly- 
catcher. 

An  uncommon  but  local  summer  resident,  formerly  more  gen- 
erally distributed,  for  it  is  recorded  breeding  at  Mount  Auburn, 
Cambridge  by  Nuttall,  and  in  Brookline  by  Audubon,  both  about 
1830,  and  at  Lynn  in  1858  by  George  O.  Welch ;  and  it  bred  about 
Boston  until  within  the  70's  It  is  now  wholly  absent  from  these 
localities  as  a  summer  resident,  and  at  present  breeds  regularly 
only,  as  far  as  we  know,  in  Berkshire,  Hampden,  Worcester, 
Plymouth  and  Barnstable  Counties. 

May  12  to  September   10. 

Berkshire:  "Summer  resident,  of  restricted  range."  Brookline: 
"One  record  ;  Audubon,  Aujjust  8,  1852."  Cambridge:  Transient  visit- 
ant; formerly  not  uncommon  summer  visitant.  Dedham:  "Rare." 
Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Not  common."  Springfield  :  "  Rather 
common  summer  resident ;  breeds  regularly  at  Tatham."  Templeton: 
"Tolerably  common  migrant."  [Breeds  at  Winchendon  :  Brewster.] 
Wellesley:  "  Formerly  common,  but  now  scarce  migrant." 

216.  Sayornis  phoebe  (Lath.).     Phcebe. 
A  common  summer  resident. 


8o  Birds  of    Massachusetts 

(February  20)  March  15  to  October  16  (October  22). 
Amherst:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Common  sum- 
mer resident.  Cohasset :  "Common."  Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex 
County  :"  Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Common  summer 
resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Uncommon  summer  resident." 
Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton  ;  "Common 
summer  resident."     Wellesley  :  "Common  summer  resident.'' 

217.  Sayornis  saya  (Bonap.).     Say's  Phcebe. 

Accidental  from  the  west:  North  Truro^  an  adult  male  cap- 
tured on  September  30,  1889,  near  one  of  the  Highland  farm- 
houses, by  Mr.  Gerritt  S.  Miller,  Jr.^ 

218.  Myiarchus  crinitus  (Linn.).     Crested    Flycatcher. 
An  uncommon  summer  resident,  but  sometimes  common  locally. 

This  bird,  it  would  seem,  is  increasing  in  numbers  as  a  summer 
resident  within  the  State. 

(May  i)  May  9  to  September  12  (October  15). 
Amherst:  "  Uncommon  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Summer  res- 
ident, not  generally  common."  Bristol  County:  "  Common  summer  res- 
ident." Brookline:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Uncom- 
mon summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "  Fairly  common."  Dedham  :  "Rare.'' 
Essex  County :"  Summer  visitant."  One  pair  seen  in  the  summer  of 
1855.  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Summer  resident."  Springfield :"  Not 
generally  common,  but  locally  a  regular  summer  resident."  Templeton: 
"Not  very  common  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Scarce  and  local 
summer  resident." 

219.  Tyrannus  tyrannus  (Linn.).     Kingbird. 
A  very  common  summer  resident. 

(April  16)  May  4  to  September  19  (September  26). 
Amherst  :  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Brook- 
line :  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant  summer 
resident.  Cohasset:  "Numerous."  Dedham:  "Common."  Essex 
County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Abundant  sum- 
mer resident."  Martha's  Vineyard :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Springfield:  "Abundant."  Templeton:  "Common."  "Wellesley:  "Very 
common  summer  resident." 

1  Miller  ;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  p.  228. 


Annotated   List  of   Species  8 1 

220.  Tyrannus  dominicensis  (Gmel.).     Gray  Kingbird. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     One  record  :    Ly7in,   an   immature 

bird,  taken  October  [23],  1869,  by  Mr.  Charles  I.  Goodale.^ 

221.  Otocorys  alpestris    (Linn.).     Shore  Lark. 
Inland,  a  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  but  along  the  coast, 

an  abundant  migrant,  and  not  uncommon  winter  resident. 

(September  27)  October  17  to  April  19  (May  27). 

Berkshire:  "Rare  [spring  ?]  and  autumn  visitant."  Bristol  County: 
*'  Common  winter  visitant."  Cambridge :  Common  transient  visitant. 
Cohasset:  >^'  Abundant."  Dedham  :  "  Occasionally  seen  in  early  spring." 
Essex  County:  "October  to  April  or  May.  Abundant.".  Ipswich: 
"  Abundant  winter  visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Very  common  win- 
ter visitant."     Springfield  :  "  Rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor." 

222.  Otocorys  alpestris  praticola  Hensh.  Prairie  Horned 
Lark. 

A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  summer  resident,  occur- 
ring also  in  winter.  It  has  been  found  breeding  at  North  Adams, 
Williamstown  and  Pittsfield,^  and  we  here  record  for  the  first  time, 
its  breeding  in  Worcester  County,  at  Hubbardston,  where,  we  are 
informed  by  Mr.  Frederic  Cunningham,  Jr.,  in  July,  1899,  he 
found  a  nest  with  eggs,  from  which  the  young  were  safely  reared. 
Mr.  William  Brewster  records  seeing  two  birds  at  Concord  in 
July,  1869,3  which  were  probably  of  this  race.  The  only  winter 
record,  at  present,  is  of  a  flock  of  twenty-five  or  more  which  win- 
tered at  Longmeadow  in  i896-'97.'*  Autumn  and  spring  coast 
records  are:  two  males  at  Great  Island,  Hyannis,  December  15, 
1888.^  On  October  26,  1899,  at  Ipswich,  the  present  writers,  in 
company  with  Dr.  Walter  Faxon,  saw  four  (perhaps  six)  birds, 
of  which  a  male  was  taken.  Although  nearest  praticola  this 
specimen  seems  almost  intermediate  between  that  race  and  are- 
nicola,  but  this   may  be   merely  a  case    of  individual  variation." 

1  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No    12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  645,  p.  47  of  separate. 
''Faxon  &  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1892,  pp.  201,  202;  ibid.., 
Vol.  XI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1894,  pp.  326,  327. 

3  Brewster;  Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2d  ed.,  1895,  P-  247. 
*  Morris;  Auk,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1899,  p.  85. 
^Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1888,  pp.  in,  112. 
®Howe;  Auk,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1900,  p.  175. 


82  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

There  is  a  male  from  West  Roxbury  taken  March  22,  1873,  ^^ 
the  mounted  collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  His- 
tory. Three  birds  were  also  taken  at  Revere  Beach,  February 
28,  1883.1 

(February  28) ;  Summer  ;  October  26  to  December  15  ;  (Winter). 
Berkshire  ;    "  Rare    summer    resident."       Flocks   at    Pontoosuc    Lake^ 
November  and   December.     Ipswich :    One  instance.     Springfield  :  Two 
instances. 

223.  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  (Aud.).  Rough-winged 
Swallow. 

A  very  rare  summer  resident,  known  to  breed  in  the  State  only 
in  certain  limestone  cliffs  at  North  Ada?ns,  Berkshire  County, 
where  two  pairs  nested  in  June,  1895.^  There  is  but  one  other 
record,  of  a  bird  taken  in  May,  185 1,  at  East/iampto?i,  and  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  H.  L.  Clark. 3 

224.  Clivicola  riparia  (Linn.).     Bank  Swallow. 
A  common,  and  somewhat  local  summer  resident. 
April  25  to  September  2. 

Amherst;  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Fairly  common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "Formerly  not  uncommon  summer  resident."  Cambridge: 
Common  summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident."  Springfield  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Templeton:  "Abundant  in  summer."  Wellesley ;  "Locally  common 
summer  resident." 

225.  Tachycineta  bicolor  (VieilL).  White-bellied  Swal- 
low. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  now  a  rather  un- 
common and  local  summer  resident. 

March  22  to  October  15. 

Amherst:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Abundant  tran- 
sient  visitant,    not    very    common    summer   resident."     Bristol  County : 

1  Brewster;    Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1898,  pp.  in,  112. 

2  Faxon  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1895,  p.  392. 

3  Clark  ;  Birds  of  Amherst,  1887,  p.  49. 


Annotated   List   of   Species  8^ 

"  Common  summer  resident."  Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant  and  rare 
summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Summer  resident,  formerly  common  ; 
now  common  only  as  a  migrant.  Cohasset :  "Numerous."  Dedham  : 
'•Very  common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Com- 
mon migrant  and  summer  resident."  Springfield:  Abundant  migrant; 
"a  few  breed."  Templeton  :  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Wellesley  : 
"Common  migrant;   less  common  summer  resident." 

2*26.    Hirundo  erythrogastra  (Bodd.).     Barn  Swallow. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  common  summer 
resident,  but  gradually  losing  ground  in  the  eastern  portions  of  the 
State  as  the  old-fashioned  barns  become  replaced  by  modern 
structures. 

April  2  to  September  30. 

Amherst:  ''An  abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County  ;  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  '•  Formerly  common  summer  resident,  now  rare  except  as  a 
migrant."  Cambridge:  Common  summer  resident,  fast  decreasing. 
Cohasset:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Dedham:  "Common."  Essex 
County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "Abundant  sum- 
mer resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Common 
summer  resident."     Wellesley:  "  Common  summer  resident." 

227.  Petrochelidon  lunifrons   (Say).     Eave  Swallow. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  as  a  summer  resident 
abundant  in  the  western  portions  of  the  State,  becoming  rare  in 
the  eastern  portions. 

April  23  to  September  30. 

Amherst :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "Abundant  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County:  "  Uncommon  transient  visitant,  formerly 
bred."  Brookline:  "Rare  migrant."  Cambridge:  Summer  resident, 
much  less  common  than  formerly.  Cohasset:  "Fairly  common." 
Dedham:  "  Formerly  bred."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant."  Com- 
mon. Ipswich:  "Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard: 
"  Summer  resident."  Springfield  :  "  Rather  common  summer  resident." 
Templeton:  "A  local  and  irregular  summer  resident."  Wellesley: 
"  Scarce  and  local  summer  resident." 

228.  Progne  subis  (Linn.).     Purple  Martin. 

An  uncommon  and  local  summer  resident ;  formerly  much 
more  common. 

April  14  to  September  30. 


84  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

Amherst:  "Formerly  common,  now  rare."  Berkshire:  "Not  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "  Common  transient  visitant." 
Rare  local  simimer  resident.  Brookline  :  "Rare  migrant."  Cambridge: 
Locally  common  summer  resident.  Dedham :  "Rare."  Essex  County: 
"Summer  visitant.  Common."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Uncommon 
summer  resident."  Springfield:  "  Rare  summer  resident."  Templeton  : 
"  Locally  common  in  summer."  Wellesley  :  "  Scarce  and  local  summer 
resident." 

229.  Ampelis  cedrorum  (Vieill.).     Cedar  Waxwing. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  uncommon  and 
erratic  winter  resident.  Rather  common  as  a  summer  resident. 
There  appear  to  be  two  somewhat  distinct  spring  migrations ;  one 
beginning  in  the  latter  part  of  January,  and  continuing  through 
February,  and  the  second  lasting  through  late  April  and  May. 

Amherst:  "  Common  ....  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "Common  permanent  resident,  less  common  in  winter.'' 
Cambridge  :  Not  common  permanent  resident,  common  summer  resident, 
abundant  transient  visitant  in  spring.  Cohasset  :  "Abundant  all  the 
year,  especially  in  winter."  Dedham:  "Common  resident;  common, 
though  appearing  very  erratically  in  the  winter."  Essex  County:  "Com- 
mon ... .  except  the  months  of  October,  November  and  December." 
Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident.  Winter."  Springfield  :  "  Coinmon  summer  res- 
ident." Often  seen  in  winter.  Templeton  :  "  Common  summer  resi- 
dent." Wellesley:  "  Common  summer  resident,  and  common  but  irreg- 
ular visitor  at  all  other  seasons."  ^ 

230.  Ampelis  garrulus  Linn.     Bohemian  Waxwing. 
Accidental  from  the  north.     The  records  are  :  near   Boston,  in 

the  autumn  of  1832,  Audubon's  sons  saw  a  pair,  "which  they 
pursued  more  than  an  hour,  but  without  success  ;  "  -^  Boston,  a 
large  flock  of  twenty  to  thirty  birds  was  noted  in  midwinter  about 
1844  ; '^  WiUiamstown,  one  shot  prior  to  1858,  and  now  preserved 
in  the  Williams  College  Museum  ;  3  Bolton^  eleven  specimens  were 
captured  by   S.   Jillson  in   January,    1864;*  Cambridge,  one   was 

1  Audubon  ;    Birds  of  America,  IV,  1842,  p.  106. 

2  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway  ;    Land  Birds,  Vol.  I,  p.  398. 
^Chadbourne;    Williams  Quarterly,  Vol.  V,  1858,  p.  345. 

"Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11.  Jan.,  1870,  p.  579;  pp,  25,  26  of 
separate. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  StC 

seen  by  Mr.  William  Brewster  in  October,  1869  ;  *  near  Worcester, 
several  were  taken  prior  to  1870,  and  recorded  as  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Dr.  Henry  Bryant ;  '^  Ly7i7i,  a  female  was  taken  February 
18,  1877,  by  Mr.  N.  Vickary.*  This  is  doubtless  the  specimen 
labelled  "Lynn  "  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology;  Tau7itoji^  "taken  during  the  winter  of  i882-'83^*  and 
Mr.  C.  S.  Phillips  records  having  seen  two  on  December  26, 
1885.S 

231.  Vireo  noveboracensis  (Gmel.).      White-eyed  Vireo. 
A  very  local,  and  in  some  places,  common  summer  resident. 
May  7  to  September  27. 

Amherst:  "  Qiiite  rare  "  in  May.  Berkshire:  "  Very  rare  summer 
resident."  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  local  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "Uncommon  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Rather  rare 
summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "Common  summer  resident."  Dedham  : 
"Not  common.  Very  local."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Rather 
common."  Springfield;  "  Ver^^  rare."  Templeton :  "Rare  in  sum- 
mer."    Wellesley  :  "  Scarce  summer  resident." 

232.  Vireo  solitarius  (Wils.).     Solitary  Vireo. 

A  rather  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  a  rare  and 
local  summer  resident,  except  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  State, 
where  it  is  rather  common. 

April  14  to  October  17. 

Amherst  :  "  Common  migrant,  but  very  rare  summer  resident."  Berk- 
shire :  "  Not  uncommon  summer  resident."  Bristol  County :  "Common 
transient  visitant  and  rather  rare  summer  resident."  Brookline:  "Com- 
mon migrant  and  uncommon  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Com- 
mon transient  visitant;  rather  rare  summer  resident.  Cohasset: 
"Rare."  Dedham:  "  Not  common."  Essex  County  :  "Summer.  Very 
rare."  Springfield  :  "Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and  ....  rare 
summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Common  in  summer."  "Wellesley: 
''  Common  migrant  and  not  rarely  nests." 

233.  Vireo  flavifrons  Vieill.     Yellow-throated  Vireo. 

A  rather  common  summer  resident,  especially  at  the  lower 
altitudes,  and  apparently  increasing  in  numbers. 


'Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  579;  pp.  25, 26  of  separate. 

"Maynard;    Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  108. 

•■'Brewster;    Minot's  Land  and  Game  Birds,  2d  ed.,  1895,  p.  154. 

*  Copeland ;    teste  Bent.  MS. 

^Phillips;    O.&O.,  Vol.  XII,  No.  II,  Nov.,  1887,  p.  192. 


S6  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

'May  2  to  September  12. 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire;  ''Summer  resident,  not 
common."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident."  Brookline : 
"  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge :  Common  summer  resi- 
dent. Dedham :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant. 
Rather  rare."  Ipswich:  "  Rare  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident."  Templeton;  "  Verv  rare  summer  resident." 
Wellesley:    "Common  summer  resident." 

234.  Vireo  gilvus  (Vieill).     Warbling  Vireo. 

A  common  summer  resident,  especially  about  towns  and  vil- 
lages. 

April  29  to  September  26. 

Amherst:  "  Not  uncommon  migrant.*'  Berkshire:  "  Locally  common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Common  sum- 
mer resident.  Cohasset :  "Fairly  common  summer  resident."  Ded- 
ham: "Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templieton :  "Common 
summer  resident."     Wellesley  :    "  Common  summer  resident." 

235.  Vireo  philadelphicus  (Cass.).     Philadelphia  Vireo. 
An  extremely  rare  autumn  migrant.     The  records   are :    Cam- 

bridge,  a  female  taken  September  7,  1875;^  Magnolia^  one  taken 
September  18,  1879,  t>y  Dr.  C.  W.  Townsend ;  ^  Brookline,  one 
captured  in  September,  188 1[?],  by  Mr.  Arthur  Smith  ;3  Cambridge, 
one  shot  on  September  27,  1894.'* 

236.  Vireo  olivaceus  (Linn.).     Red-eyed  Vireo. 
An  abundant  summer  resident. 

May  4  to  October  6.       (October  11.) 

Amherst:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "  i^bundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant 
summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Dedham: 
"Very  common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Ipswich:    "Abundant  summer  resident."     Martha's  Vineyard:     "  Com- 


1  Brewster;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,   No.   i,  Apr.,  1S76,  p.  19. 
^Townsend;    ibid..  Vol.  V,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1880,  p.  53. 
•^Brewster;    ibid.,  Vol.  VI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  i88r,  p.  56. 
"^P^axon;    Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1895,  P-  ^4- 


Annotated   List   of    Species  87 

mon  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Templeton  :  "Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley .  "Common 
summer  resident.'' 

237.  Lanius  borealis  Vieill.     Great  Northern  Shrike. 
A  regular  winter  visitant,  sometimes  common. 

(October  6)  October  12  to  April  16. 
Amherst:  "Uncommon  winter  visitor."  Berkshire:  "  Winter  visitant, 
not  common."  Bristol  County:  "  Not  common  winter  visitant."  Brook- 
line  :  "Common  winter  resident."  Cambridge:  Common  winter  visitant. 
Cohasset  :  "Not  rare  in  winter."  Dedham:  "Rather  common  in  the 
winter."  Essex  County:  "  Winter.  Not  abundant."  Ipswich:  "  Rather 
common  winter  visitant."  Springfield:  "  Common  winter  visitant." 
Templeton:  '^' Common  in  winter."  Wellesley:  "  Common  ....  winter 
resident." 

238.  Lanius  ludovicianus  migrans  Palmer.  Migrant 
Shrike. 

A  very  rare  permanent  resident.  It  has  been  recorded  breed- 
ing at  Williamstown,  and  specimens  have  also  been  taken  at  the 
following  localities  :  Ainherst^  April  11,  1884;  Brooklitie,  Febru- 
ary, 1879;  Cape  Cod  at  Highland  Light,  August  22,  1890; 
Framingham,  January  29,  1884;  Ipswich,  March  29,  1892;  Lynn, 
November,  1877;  Newtonville,  1874,  and  January  28,1875; 
Taunton,  September  12,  1882;  West  Newton,  October  21,  1872. 
These  specimens  have  been  usually  recorded  as  Latiius  ludovi- 
cianus excubitorides, 

239.  Corvus  corax  (Linn.) .     Raven. 

An  accidental  visitant.  The  records  are  :  Tyngsborough,  one 
taken  prior  to  1859 ;  ^  Springfield,  one  taken  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Bennett 
in  the  autumn  of  1859  ;  "^  Ded/ia?n,  two  taken  about  1859,  one  by 
Julius  M.  Lathrop,  the  other  by  Dr.  H.  F.  Aten  ;*  Williamstown^ 
two  taken,  one  "some  time  since,"^  i.  e.  prior  to  1877,  and  one 
with   no  data  ;  *  Nort/iaf?ipton,  one  taken   by   Mr.    E.   O.  Damon 

i  Samuels  ;    Mass.  Secy's  Rep.  Agric,  1859,  p.  193. 
2  Allen  ;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  75. 
^Wakefield;    Birds  of  Dedham,  1891,  p.  72. 

''Tenney;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  XI,  No.  4,  Apr.,  1877,  p.  243  and  Brewster; 
Auk,  Vol.  1,  No.  I,  Jan.,  1S84,  p.  10. 


,88  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

prior  to  1901;^  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  records  a  nestling  received 
from  TyngsboroLigh,  but  the  identification  seems  open  to  doubt. "^ 

240.  Corvus  ossifragus  Wils.     Fish  Crow. 

Occasional  from  the  south.  Mr.  William  Brewster  saw  one  fly- 
ing over  Cambridge  on  March  16,  1875,  but  the  bird  was  not 
taken. 3  The  positive  records :  Wareham,  a  pair  seen  and  the 
female  shot  on  July  16,  1884,  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Bangs  ;*  Sprijigfidd, 
one  was  shot  on  June  9,  1896,  and  the  specimen  is  now  in  the  col- 
lection of  Mr.  William  Brewster  ;^  and  Mr.  Robert  O.  Morris 
records  having  heard  this  species  there  on  one  or  two  other  occa- 
sions.^ 

241.  Corvus  americanus  Aud.     American  Crow. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  common  perma- 
nent resident.  In  winter  they  congregate  at  night  in  large  num- 
bers to  roost. 

Amherst:  "Abundant  resident.'^  Berkshire:  ''Common  permanent 
resident,  but  not  as  abundant  in  winter  as  in  summer."  Bristol  County: 
"Abundant  permanent  resident."  Brookline :  "Abundant  permanent 
resident."  Cambridge  :  Abundant  permanent  resident.  Cohasset  : 
"Abundant  resident."  Dedham  :  "  Common  resident."  Essex  County: 
"Resident.  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "Abundant  resident."  Martha's 
Vineyard:  "Abundant  resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant  resident."' 
Templeton:  "  Abundant  resident,  except  in  winter."  Wellesley:  "Com- 
mon resident." 

242.  Perisoreus  canadensis  (Linn.).     Canada  Jay. 
Accidental  from  the  north.     The  records  are  :  NewtonviUe,  one 

seen  at  very  close  range  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  early  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1875;^  Salem,  one  was  taken  October  25,  1878,  by  Lo- 
renzo A.  Smith,  now  in  the  Peabody  Academy,  Salem  ;  ^  Wolmrn^ 
^ -^ 

1  Morris;    Birds  of  Springfield,  1901,  p.  26. 

2  Maynard;    Birds  of  E.  No.  Amer.,   1882,  p.   155. 

•■'Brewster  ;    Bull.  Nutt.   Orn.  Club,  Vol.   I,  No.  i,  Apr.,  1876,  p.  19. 

"Brewster;    Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1887,  p.  162. 

^Morris  ;    Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1897,  p.  100. 

^Morris;    Birds  of  Springfield,  1901,  p.  26. 

^  Maynard;  Birds  of  E.  No.  Amer.,  part  VII,  1878,  p.  168. 

^Brewster;  Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,  pp.  474,  475. 


Annotated  List   of    Species  8o 

recorded  wrongly  as  from  Arlington  Heights,  a  male  shot  Octo- 
ber 17,  1889,  by  Mr.  F.  B.  Winship,  and  in  the  collection  of 
James  R.  Mann.^ 

243.  Cyanocitta  cristata   (Linn.).     Blue  Jay. 

A  common  permanent  resident,  probably  often  in  the  cases  ol' 
separate  individuals. 

Amherst:  "Abundant  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  permanent 
resident."  Bristol  County  :  "Permanent  resident ;  common."  Brookline  : 
"  Permanent  resident."  Cambridge  :  A  common  permanent  resident  and 
abundant  transient  visitant.  Cohasset :  "  Abundant  resident."  Dedham  : 
"  Common  resident."  Essex  County  :"  Resident.  Common."  Ipswich: 
"Not  common."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  resident."  Spring- 
field: "Common  resident."  Templeton  :  "Resident."  Wellesley: 
"  Abundant  resident." 

244.  Parus  hudsonicus  Forst.     Hudsonian  Chickadee. 

A  very  rare  late  autumn  and  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  It 
has  been  seen  once  near  a  large  cedar  swamp  in  Plymouth  County, 
on  June  5,  1896,  and  may  possibly  have  bred  there.  It  has  also 
been  noted  at  the  following  localities  :  Arlington^  October  18  to 
22;  Belmont,  December  31,  1884;  Brookli7ie,  1839;  Cambridge^ 
December  31,  1880;  Coficord,  October  30,  1870,  and  October  7, 
1880;  Moimt  Greylock^  December  15  and  19,  1890;  North  Ash- 
b urnham,  Maxc\i  17,  1890;  Qumcy^M-^rch  14,1885;  IVaTer/ey, 
November  27,  1889,  to  April  5,  1890.  There  are  also  a  few  other 
instances  as  yet  unavailable  for  publication. 

I 

245.  Parus    atricapillus  Linn.      Chickadee. 
An  abundant  permanent  resident. 

Amherst:  "Abundant  resident."  Berkshire;  "Permanent  resident, 
common,"  Bristol  County:  "  Abimdant  permanent  resident."  BrOok- 
line :  "Abundant  permanent  resident."  Cambridge:  Very  common 
permanent  resident.  Cohasset  :  "  Abundant  resident."  Dedham  : 
"  Verv  common  resident."  Essex  County:  "Resident.  ComiUv  n." 
Ipswich:  "  Common  permanent  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard ;  'Com- 
mon resident."  Springfield  :  "  Cpmmon  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Com- 
mon resident."     Wellesley  :  "  Very  common  resident." 

■  _j 

'  Editor;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  11,  Nov.,  1889,  p.  176,  and  Brewster; 
Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2d  ed.,  1895,  PP-  474»  475- 


90 


Birds   of  Massachusetts 


246.  Sitta  canadensis  Linn.     Canada  Nuthatch. 

A  common  but  irregular  winter  resident,  often  abundant  in 
autumn.  It  breeds  regularly  in  Berkshire  County,  and  locally 
elsewhere  in  the  State,  as  at  Ware,  Winchendon,  Plymouth 
County,  Bolton,  Beverley,  Medford  and  Needham. 

September  3  to  May  20  ;  Summer. 

Amherst:  "Several  instances."  Berkshire:  "Not  uncommon  perma- 
nent resident."  Onlv  a  migrant  and  winter  visitant  in  the  low  country. 
Bristol  County:  "Irregular  winter  visitant."  Brookline :  "Common, 
often  abundant,  migrant  and  winter  resident."  Cambridge .  Irregular 
transient  and  winter  visitant.  Cohasset:  "Irregular;  common  in 
autumn.  Some  winter."  Dedham  :  "Usually  rare."  Essex  County: 
"  Common  "  in  winter.  Ipswich  :  "  Very  common  in  winter.  Once  August 
15."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Common  in  autumn.  Once  August  i."  Spring- 
field: "  Rather  common  in  migration,  and  an  irregular  winter  visitor." 
Templeton:  "Migrant  of  variable  abundance."  Wellesley :  "Irregular 
migrant  and  winter  visitant." 

247.  Sitta  carolinensis  Lath.     White-breasted  Nuthatch. 
A    common  spring  and  autumn   migrant    and  winter  resident, 

and  a  rare  local  summer  resident. 

Amherst:  "Abundant  resident,  but  rare  in  summer."  Berkshire: 
*'  Permanent  resident.  Not  uncommon."  Bristol  County  :  Rather  com- 
mon winter  visitant  and  common  transient  visitant;  may  breed.  Brook- 
line  :  "  Common  winter  resident  and  rare  local  summer  resident."  Cam- 
bridge :  Permanent  resident,  rare  in  summer.  Cohasset :  "  Rather  rare 
resident."  Dedham:  "Common."  Essex  County  :  "Rare."  Martha's 
Vineyard:  "Common  resident."  Springfield:  "Common  resident, 
more  numerous  during  migrations."  Templeton:  "  Common  migrant." 
"Wellesley:     "  Rather  common  resident.     More  plentiful  as  a  migrant." 

248.  Certhia  familiaris  americana  (Bonap.).  Brown 
Creeper. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  winter  resident; 
as  a  summer  resident  found  regularly  in  Berkshire  County,  and  in 
certain  parts  of  Plymouth  County,^  and  also  recorded  breeding  at 
Taunton^  in  1878  and  Springfield  ^  in  1863  and  near  Boston  prior 
to  1877.* 

September  12  to  May  12  ;   Summer. 

iChadbourne;    Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1896,  p.  346. 

2  Brewer;    Bull.  Nutt.  Oru.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1879,  PP-  87-90. 

^  Allen  ;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  69. 

'^  Minot ;   Land  &  Game  Birds  of  N.  E.,  1877,  p.  68. 


Annotated   List  of   Species  QI 

Amherst:  "Resident.  Common  in  winter."  Berkshire  :  "  Breeds  tn 
considerable  numbers  ....  on  Greylock."  A  winter  visitant  to  other 
portions  of  the  county.  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  winter  visitant." 
One  instance  of  breeding.  Brookline  :  "  Abundant  winter  resident." 
Cambridge  :  Common  transient  visitant,  rather  common  winter  visitant. 
Cohasset :  "  Common  winter  visitant."  Dedham  :  "  Common  in  the 
winter."  Essex  County  :  "  Common  "  in  winter.  Ipswich  :  Winter. 
Marthas  Vineyard:  "Uncommon  winter  resident."  Springfield: 
"  Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  winter  resident.  Once  found 
breeding."  Templeton  :  "Common  in  fall  and  winter."  Wellesley : 
*'  Common  winter  resident." 

249.  Cistothorus  palustris  (Wils.).  Long-billed  Marsh 
Wren. 

A  common  local  summer  resident;  it  has  been  known  to  win- 
ter occasionally  at  Fresh  Pond,  Cambridge.^ 

May  2  to  November  30  (December  10)  (Winter). 

Berkshire  :  "Very  rare  summer  resident."  Brookline  :  "  Rare  migrant, 
formerl\-  a  common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Locally  abundant 
summer  resident.  Dedham:  "  Common  locally."  Martha's  Vineyard  : 
*'  May  to  November."  Springfield  :  "  Rather  rare  summer  resident." 
Wellesley  :  "  Locally  cofnmon  summer  resident." 

250.  Cistothorus  stellaris  (Licht.).  Short-billed  Marsh 
Wren. 

A  very  local,  and  in  some  places  not  uncommon  summer  resi- 
dent. 

May  10  to  October  2. 

Berkshire  :  "  Summer  resident,  ....  of  local  distribution."  Cambridge  : 
Locally  common  summer  resident.  Dedham:  "Common  locally." 
Springfield:  "Rather  rare  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Locally 
common  summer  resident." 

251.  Troglodytes  hiemalis  Vieill.     W^inter  Wren. 

An  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  local  summer 
resident  in  Berkshire  County  and  at  Winchendon,  in  Worcester 
County,^  and  it  probably  bred  once  at  Lynn. 3    Rare  winter  resident. 

1  Faxon  ;    Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  pp.  408,  409. 

•-2  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1888,  p.  392. 

^  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1883,  pp.  119,  120. 


Q2  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

April  8  to  29  ;  Summer  ;  September  15  to  December  25;  Winter. 

Amherst:  "Irregular  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Chiefly  a  spring  and 
autumn  migrant,  though  many  breed."  Bristol  County:  "  Rare  and  irreg- 
ular winter  visitant."  Brookline:  "  Uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge: 
Transient  visitant,  rather  rare.  Dedham:  "Rare  winter  visitor." 
Springfield:  "Uncommon  spring  and  autumn  visitor  and  rare  winter 
resident."  Templeton  ;  "  Common  migrant."  Wellesley  :  "  Scarce 
migrant  and  rare  winter  resident." 

252.  Hylemathrous  aedon  (Vieill.).     House  Wren. 

A  formerly  common  summer  resident ;  now  common  only  locally. 

April  24  to  October  4. 

Amherst:  "  Uncommon  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Fairly  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Rare  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "Local  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Locally  common 
summer  resident.  Dedham;  "Rare."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visit- 
ant. Common."  Springfield:  "Rather  uncommon  summer  resident." 
Templeton:  "  Rather  rare  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "  Scarce  sum- 
mer resident." 

253.  Thryothorus  ludovicianus  (Lath.).  Carolina 
Wren. 

A  very  rare  visitant  from  the  south.  It  has  been  noted  in  the 
State  during  the  breeding  season,  and  as  it  has  been  found  breed- 
ing in  Rhode  Island,  it  may  possibly  do  so  rarely  in  Massachu- 
setts. The  records  are:  ii^2x  Boston  (Roxbury),  a  pair  seen  and 
thought  to  be  probably  breeding  in  a  swamp,  about  July  4,  1876  ;  ^ 
Lynn,  a  bird  taken  July  6,  1878.  This  bird. is  now  in  the  mounted 
collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History ;  ^  Brookline, 
a  specimen  taken  November  4,  1883,  by  Arthur  Smith;  3  Cani- 
bridge,  a  male  taken  September  27,  1891  ;*  Dorchester,  Mr. 
Francis  J.  Birtwell  writes  us  that  a  male  was  taken  and  another 
bird  seen  by  Mr.  F.  B.  McKechnie,  December  30,  1898;  Taunton, 
one  was  captured  in  the  barn  of  John  Sharpe,  February  13,  1899, 
at  the  time  of  a  great  storm. ^ 


1  Minot;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No.  3,  Sept.,  1876,  p.  76. 

2  Brewer;    ibid.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1878,  p.  193. 

3  Cory;  Auk,  Vol.  I,  No.  1,  Jan.,  1884,  p.  91. 

'' Batchelder ;    Auk,  Vol.  IX,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1892,  pp.  jt^,  74. 
^  Copeland ;    in  MS. 


Annotated  List  of  Species 


93 


254.  Harporrhynchus  rufus  (Linn.).      Brown  Thrasher. 
A  very  common  summer  resident,  except  in  Berkshire  County 

where  it  is  not  rare.  During  the  winter  of  1894.  a  bird,  possibly 
a  cripple,  was  observed  at  Arlington  from  December  15,  1894,  to 
March  5,  1895.^  It  was,  however,  supplied  with  food.  A  bird 
was  seen  about  February  14,  1890,  at  West  Yarmouth,  that  may 
have  wintered  in  the  vicinity.^ 

(March  29)  (April  6)  April  20  to  October  22  ("  first  of  De- 
cember "). 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Summei  res- 
ident, not  very  rare."  Bristol  County:  "Very  common  summer  resi- 
dent." Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant  and  summer  resident."  Cam- 
bridge :  Very  common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  '*  Abundant  summer 
resident."  Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant. 
Common."  Ipswich:  "Very  common  summer  resident."  Martha's 
Vineyard:  '■'■  Abundant  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Common 
sumnier  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Welles- 
ley  :  "  Very  common  summer  resident." 

255.  GaleosGOptes  carolinensis  (Linn.).     Catbird. 

A  very  common  summer  resident.  It  has  been  five  times  re- 
corded in  winter,  viz.,  at  Wood's  Holl,  December  28,  1877  ;  3  at 
Welles  ley,  December  30,  1887  ;  *  at  Millbury,  December  30, 
189 1  ;^  at  Waverley,  December  17-31,  1892  ;^  and  at  Martha's 
Vineyard.^  December  26,  1900.' 

(April  25)  April  29  to  October  16  (November  14)  (Winter). 
Amherst :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County:  "Very  common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant  sum- 
mer resident.  Cohasset :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Dedham  : 
"Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  resident.  Common."  Ipswich: 
"Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  local 
summer  resident.  Winter."  Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Templeton:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Very  common 
summer  resident." 

iGilman;    Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1896,  pp.  176,  177. 

2  B.  S.  T.;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXXIV,  Feb.  27,  1890,  p.  104. 

=^Murdock  ;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1878,  p.  76. 

4  Denton  ;   O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  7,  July,  1888,  p.  104. 

»Reed;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1891,  p.  15. 

®  Faxon ;    in  verbis. 

'  Greenough  ;    in  MS. 


94 


Birds  of  Massachusetts 


256.  Mimus  polyglottos  (Linn.).     Mockingbird. 

A  very  rare  summer  resident.  It  has  been  fomid  breeding  at  Tat- 
ham  and  Springfield,^  at  Arlington,"^  at  Marshfield,3  and  at  Groton  ;  ^ 
and  probably  at  Hyannis,^  where  a  young  bird  in  spotted  phunage 
was  taken  August  30,  1 891,  at  Ipswich,^  where  a  pair  were  taken  on 
April  4,  1892,  and  at  Highland  Light/  where  three  birds  were 
seen  September  11,  1890.  In  addition  to  the  above,  two  adult 
females  have  been  taken  at  Taunton,  April  5,  1893,^  and  Novem- 
ber II,  1897,®  respectively.  The  many  other  birds  recorded  may 
be  either  escaped  cage-birds  or  actual  visitants  from  the  south,  so 
that  such  records  are  valueless. 

257.  Sialia  sialis  (Linn.).     Bluebird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  more  numerous  on  migrations. 
On  Cape  Cod  it  winters  somewhat  regularly  in  small  numbers, 
and  has  been  found  in  winter  at  various  other  points  near  the 
coast. 

March  2  to  November  2  (December  10)  (Winter). 
Amherst:  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  A  fairly  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident, 
casual  in  winter."  Brookline:  "  Common  summer  resident,"  Cam- 
bridge: Common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Fairly  common  sum- 
mer resident."  Dedham:  "Very  common."  Essex  County;  '"Summer 
visitant.  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "  Rather  common  summer  resident." 
Martha's  Vineyard;  "  Summer  resident."  Springfield':  "'Abundant  sum- 
mer resident,"  and  in  all  months  except  January.  Templeton  :  "Com- 
mon summer  visitant."  ^Vellesley  :  "Common  summer  resident ...  . 
rarely  seen  in  winter." 

258.  Hesperocichia  nsevia   (Gmel).     Varied  Thrush. 
An  accidental  visitant  from  the  far  west.     The  only  record  is  : 

1  Allen;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  pp.  67,  68,  and  Morris  ;  Auk, 
Vol.  VI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1889,  p.  125  ;  zdtd.,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1891,  p.  117, 
and  zdid.,  Vol.  IX,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1892,  p.  74. 

^Townsend;    Auk,  Vol.  I,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1884,  p.  192. 

^Torrey;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  9,  Sept.,  1889,  p.  144. 

^Batchelder;    Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  3,  July,  1895,  PP-  3oS,  309. 

^Cory;    Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1891,  p.  395. 

6 Editor;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  4,  Apr.,  1893,  p.  51. 

'Miller;   Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  i,  Jan.,   1891,  pp.  119,  120. 

^  Gaboon ;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XX,  Apr.  5,  1883,  p.  185,  and  Bent ;  Auk, 
Vol.  XV,  No.  I,  Jan.,  1898,  pp.    59,  60. 


Annotated   List   of    Species  QC 

Ipstvich,  one  shot  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  in  December,  1864.^ 
The  specimen  is  now  in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History. 

259.  Merula  migratoria  (Linn.).     American  Robin. 

iVn  abundant  summer  resident,  and  not  uncommon  winter  resi- 
dent in  most  portions  of  the  State,*  especially  along  the  seacoast. 

March  8  to  November  23. 

Amherst:  "  iVbundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  A  few  winter.  Bristol  County:  "Very  abundant 
summer  resident,  casual  in  winter."  Brookline:  *' Abundant  summer, 
and  not  uncommon  winter  resident."  Cambridge  :  Very  abundant  sum- 
mer resident,  common  but  irregular  winter  visitant.  Cohasset :  "Abun" 
dant  at  all  seasons."  Dedham  :  "  Exceedingly  abundant."  EssexCounty: 
"Resident.  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Abun- 
dant summer  resident,  occasionally  winters."  Templeton :  "Abun- 
dant."    Wellesley  :    "  Abundant  summer  resident ....  a  few  winter." 

260.  Hylocichla  guttata  pallasii  (Cab.).  Hermit  Thrush. 
A  common  spring  and  autumn   migrant,  breeding  regularly  in 

Berkshire,  Hampden,  Worcester,  Plymouth  and  Barnstable 
Counties,  and  at  Martha's  Vineyard.^  It  has  also  been  found 
breeding  at  Lynn,3  Roxbury,*  Concord,^  North  Beverley,  and  else- 
where. It  has  occurred  occasionally  in  winter,  having  been 
observed  at  Roxbury,  December  25,  1882,^  and  at  Waverley,  Jan- 
uary 12,  189 1,  and  February  14,  1892.'^ 

(April  1)  April  4  to  May  18;  September  19  to  November  10 
(Winter). 

Amherst:  "  Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  Prior  to  1894-95  a  com- 
mon summer  resident,  less  common  since   then  above  800   feet.     Bristol 


1  Coues,  fide,  Allen  MS.\  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  V,  r866-'67,  p.  312. 
*Howe;    Auk,  Vol.   XV,  No.  2,  Apr.,   1898,    pp.   162-167,  and  Brewster; 
ibid.,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  pp.  360-373. 

^Howe  &  Coggins  ;     Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,    No.   i,    Jan.,   1901,  pp.  111,112. 

3 Welch;    Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XIII,  1870,  p.  366. 

"  Brewer;    Bost.  Journal  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VI,  1852,' p.  304,  305. 

°  Maynard;    Birds  of  East.  No.  Amer.,  1882,  p.  10. 

6  Job  ;    Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1883,  p.  149. 

"^  Faxon  ;    /;/  verbis. 


q6  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

County:  "Common  transient  visitant."  Brookline  :  "Common  migrant." 
Cambridge:  Very  common  transient  visitant,  occasionally  one  or  two 
may  winter.  Cohasset:  "Rather  uncommon  migrant."  Dedhani : 
*' Common  migrant."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common. 
Occasionally  seen  in  the  winter."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Uncommon 
summer  resident  about  Tashmoo  Lake."  Springfield:  "Common 
migrant,  and  rare  summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  A  rare  summer  resi- 
dent, common  as  a  mijjrant."  Wellesley ;  "Common  migrant,  rarely 
breeds." 

261.  Hylocichla  ustulata  swainsonii  (Cab.).  Olive- 
backed  Thrush. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  in  the  higher  por- 
tions of  Berkshire  County  not  an  uncommon  summer  resident. 

(April)   May  3  to  June  7  ;   September  20  to  October  21. 

Amherst:  "  Rare  and  irregular  migrant."  Berkshire;  "Not  uncom- 
mon summer  resident In  the  low  country  known  only  as  a  spring  and 

autumn  migrant."  Bristol  County :  "  Rather  common  transient  visit- 
ant." Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant."  Cambridge :  Common  transient 
visitant.  Cohasset:  "  Not  rare  migrant."  Dedham  :  "Rather  common 
Tnigrant."  Ipswich:  "Uncommon  transient  visitant."  Springfield: 
"Common  migrant."  Templeton:  "Common  migrant."  "Wellesley: 
"Common  migrant." 

262.  Hylocichla  alicise  Baird.     Gray-cheeked  Thrush. 
An  uncommon,  if  not  rare,  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 
May  17  to  June  3  ;   September  15  to  October  9. 

Berkshire:  "  Rare  transient  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "Uncommon 
transient  visitant."  Brookline  :  "  Rare  migrant."  Cambridge:  Uncom- 
mon transient  visitant.  Dedham  :  One  instance.  Springfield  :  "  Rare 
late  spring  and  early  autumn  migrant."  Wellesley  :  "  Rare  or  scarce 
migrant." 

263.  Hylocichla  alicise  bicknelli  (Ridgw.).  Bicknell's 
Thrush. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  a  very  rare 
summer  resident  on  the  summit  of  Greylock  Mountain  in  Berk- 
shire County.^ 

May  2  to  25  ;    (Summer);  October  5  to  25. 

1  Faxon  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1895,  PP-  39-»  393- 


Annotated  List   of  Species  ^7 

Berkshire  :  "  Very  rare  summer  resident."  Brookline :  "  Rare  migrant." 
Cambridge:  Rather  common  transient  visitant.  Dedham :  One  instance. 
^Wellesley  :  "  Scarce  migrant." 

264.  Hylocichla  fuscescens    (Steph.).     Wilson's  Thrush. 
A  very  common  summer  resident. 

April  30  to  September  11  (September  19). 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Most  abun- 
dant of  the  Hylocicklcey  Bristol  County:  "Rather  common  summer 
resident."  Brookline:  "Abundant  summer  resident.'^  Cambridge: 
Very  common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Locally  common  summer 
resident."  Dedham:  "Rather  common."  Essex  County:  "Summer 
visitant.  Coitimon."  Ipswich  :"  Common  summer  resident."  Martha's 
Vineyard:  One  instance,  September  22,  1899;  ^xohv^Ay  H.f.  fuliginosa. 
Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "Abundant 
summer  resident."     Wellesley  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 

265.  Hylocichla  fuscescens  fuliginosa  Howe.*  ^  New- 
foundland Thrush'. 

Undoubtedly  an  uncommon  spring  and  late  autumn  migrant. 
The  only  definite  record  is :  Lanesboro^  one  taken  on  September 
27,  1900,  by  Dr.  Walter  Faxon  and  now  in  the  Museum  of  Com- 
parative Zoology.^  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen 
in  his  "  Birds  of  Springfield  "  published  in  1864  (pp.  57,  58)  in  his 
discussion  of  the  right  of  Alice's  Thrush  to  recognition  wrote: 
"  Among  individuals  of  Turdus  fuscesce7is,  collected  the  past 
summer  at  Springfield,  I  have  detected  a  difference  similar 
in  kind  and  as  great  in  degree  as  that  separating  forms  hereto- 
fore considered  typical  respectively  of  T.  swainsonii  and  T.  alicice. 
Thus  one  specimen  is  very  highly  colored  throughout,  being  very 
bright  i-eddish  brown  above,  and  has  the  breast  bright  reddish  buff, 
of  about  the  same  tint  as  is  highly  colored  T.  swainsojiii,  and  the 
spots  very  distinct,  while  the  other  is-very  pale  throughout,  being 
of  a  d(tcided\y  yellowis/i  hroviw  above,  and  has  the  breast  pale  buff, 
and  the  spots  more  indistinct  than  in  the  first."  Dr.  Allen,  it  will 
be  seen,  was  obviously  describing  Il.f.  fuliginosa  as  compared 
with  H.  fuscescens. 

[May];   September  [23]  to  October  5. 

*  Howe;   Auk,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  3,  July,  1900,  pp.  270,  27  r. 
1  Faxon;   Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  198. 


q8  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

266.  Hylocichla  mustelina  (Gmel.).     Wood  Thrush. 

A  fairly  common  summer  resident.     It  has  only  in  the  last  few 
years  become  at  all  common  in  Berkshire  County. 
(April  26)  May  i  to  September  28  (October  10). 

Amherst:  "Uncommon  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Fairly  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resi- 
dent." Brookline :  "Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Rather 
common  summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex  County:  '' Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton :  "Rare  sum- 
mer resident."     Wellesley  :  "  Rather  common  summer  resident." 

267.  Polioptila  cserulea  (Linn.) .    Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     The   records   are  :   Chatha7n,  one 

was  seen  November  18,  1877,  by  Arthur  Smith,  and  a  few  days 
later  a  female,  probably  the  same  bird,  was  taken  by  Stephen 
Decatur ;  ^  Falmouth^  an  adult  male  was  captured  by  F.  C.  Swift, 
December  18,  1877  ;  ^  this  bird  is  now  in  the  mounted  collection 
of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History;  Magnolia,  an  im- 
mature female  was  taken  by  Mr.  Outram  Bangs,  August  27, 
1879;  3  Ostennlle^  2in  adult  female  was  captured  September  26, 
1879,  by  Dr.  A.  P.  Chadbourne ;  *  Brookline^  a  bird  taken  Sep- 
tember 8,  1887,  by  Dr.  A.  L.  Reagh  ;^  Highland  Light,  an  adult 
female  shot  October  9,  1889,  by  Mr.  G.  S.  Miller,  Jr.^ 

268.  Regulus    calendula     (Linn.).      Ruby-crowned  King- 
let. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  ;  casual  in  winter,  at 
Highland  Light,  January  15,  1892  ;  "^   Fresh   Pond,  December  23, 

1899.' 

April  5  to  May  13  ;  September  23  to  November  16  (Winter). 
Amherst:    "Common   migrant."     Berkshire:  "Rather  common   tran- 
sient visitant  in  the  spring  and  autumn."     Bristol  County :    "Uncommon 

iDeane;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1878,  p.  45. 

^Brewer  ;  ibid.,  No.  3,  July,  pp.  146,  147. 

3  Deane  ;     ibid.,  Vol.  V,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1880,  p.  47. 

*  Brewer;    Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  1879,  P-  -64,  footnote  2. 

^Howe  ;    Brookline  Chronicle,  Jan.  30,  1897. 

^Miller;    Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  p.  229. 

7  White;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  6,  June,  1882,  p.  85.. 

^  Faxon  ;  in  verbis. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  QO 

transient  visitant."  Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant."  Cambridge  : 
Rather  common  transient  visitant.  Cohasset :  "  Rather  uncommon  mi- 
grant." Dedham  :  "  Rather  common  migrant."  Essex  County:  "Plenti- 
ful in  May."  Springfield :  "  Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant." 
Templeton:  "  Common  migrant."     Wellesley  :   "  Common  migrant." 

269.  Regulus  satrapa  Licht.       Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 
A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant    and    winter    resident. 

It  breeds  regularly  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  Berkshires  and 
locally  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  as  at  Winchendon,^  Lynn,^ 
and  in  Plymouth  County. 3 

September  18  to  May  9  ;   Summer. 

Amherst:  "  Not  rare  winter  visitant."  Berkshire:  "Not  uncommon 
permanent  resident,"  invading  the  valley  country  only  as  a  winter  visit- 
ant. Bristol  County:  "Common  >vinter  visitant."  Brookline:  "Com- 
mon winter  resident."  Cambridge:  .Very  common  transient  visitant; 
common  winter  visitant.  Cohasset:  "  Numerous  in  winter."  Dedham: 
"Common  winter  resident."  Essex  County;  "Common  in  winter." 
Ipswich:  "Common  winter  visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common 
winter  resident."  Springfield  :  "  Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor, 
and  rare  winter  resident."  Templeton:  "Common  during  migrations." 
,    Wellesley  :  ''Common  in  spring  and  fall  and  at  times  in  winter." 

270.  Anthus  pennsilvanicus  (Lath.).     American  Pipit. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant ;  having  been  taken 
once  on  June  8,  1878,  at  Swampscott,*  and  once  on  January  4, 
1878,  at  Newburyport.^ 

P'ebruary  25  to  May  20  (June  8)  ;  September  12  to  November 
I     24;  (Winter). 

Amherst:  "One  instance."  Berkshire:  "Transient  visitant,  spring 
and  autumn."  Bristol  County:  "Common  transient  visitant."  Brook- 
line: "Common  migrant."  Cambridge:  Abundant  transient  visitant- 
in  fall,  but  less  common  in  spring.  Cohasset:  "Not  uncommon  in 
spring,  rarer  in  fall."  Dedham:  "Rare  migrant."  Martha's  Vineyard : 
"Common  in  autumn."  Springfield:  "Common  autumn  and  rather 
rare  spring  visitor."  Templeton:  "Rare  migrant."  Wellesley:  "Mi- 
grant."       » 

1  Brewster  ;  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1888,  pp.  337-344. 

2  Editor ;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  6,  June,  1889,  p.  95. 

^  Chadbourne;  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1896,  p.  346. 

*  Brewer;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1878,  p.  194. 

=  Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XIX,  1878,  p.  302. 


lOO  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

271.  Setophaga  ruticilla  (Linn.).     American  Redstart. 
A  very  common  summer  resident. 

(April  13)   April  23  to  October  2. 

Amherst:  "Abundant  migrant"  [and  summer  resident].  Berkshire: 
*' Common  summer  resident."  Bristol  County :  "Common  summer  res- 
ident." Brookline  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Very 
common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Abundant  in  summer."  Ded- 
ham :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Ipswich:  "Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "Common 
summer  resident."  Springfield :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Tem- 
pleton :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Common,  but 
somewhat  local  summer  resident." 

272.  Wilsonia  canadensis  (Linn.).     Canadian  Warbler. 
A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant.     In  Berkshire  County 

and  in  central  portions  of  the  State  it  is  a  common  summer 
resident,  elsewhere  in  Massachusetts  it  occurs  in  summer  only 
locally  in  damp,  thick,  generally  evergreen  woods. 

May  II  to  September  26. 

Amherst  :"  Not  uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  transient  visitant,  and 
rare  summer  resident."  Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant  and  rare  local  sum- 
mer resident."  Cambridge :  Common  transient  visitant.  Cohasset : 
"  Sometimes  very  common  in  spring."  Dedham  :  "Common  migrant 
and  has  been  found  breeding."  Essex  County  :  Summer  visitant.  Rath- 
er rare."  Ipswich:  "Not  common  transient  visitant."  Springfield: 
"  Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  a  few  may  breed."  Templeton : 
"  Summer  resident.  Rare."  Wellesley:  "Rather  scarce  migrant. ...  and 
rare  summer  resident." 

a. 

273.  Wilsonia  pusillyt:^  (Wils.).     Wilson's  Warbler. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

May  7  to  May  29  ;  August  23  to  September  27  (November 
2-20).^ 

Amherst :  "  Rare  and  irregular  migrant."  Berkshire  :  "  Fairly  common 
transient  visitant."  Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  transient  visitant." 
Brookline:  "Uncommon  migrant."  Cambridge:  Common  transient 
visitant.  Dedham:  "  Rather  rare  migrant."  Essex  County  :  "Rare." 
Springfield:  "Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant."  Templeton:  "  Com- 
mon migrant."     Wellesley:    "  Scarce  migrant." 

1  Hoffmann  ;    Auk,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1900,  p.  196. 


Annotated  List   of    Species  loi 

274.  ^A^ilsonia  mitrata  (Gmel.).     Hooded  Warbler. 

A  rare  or  accidental  summer  visitant,  perhaps  rarely  breeding. 
Mr.  J.  B.  Grimes  reports  it  as  formerly  observed  in  the  breeding 
season  near  Pittsfield.^  The  records  are  :  Brookline,  one  taken 
June  25,  1879,  by  Wm.  Adair;  ^  Frovificetown,  a  male  taken  on 
June  25,  1888,  by  Harry  C.  Whorf  ;  3  Tatmton,  two  birds  noted  on 
May  8,  1888,  by  Mr.  B.  A.  Scudder ;  *  Framingham^  a  male  taken 
in  a  barn  on  October  i5_,  1893. '^ 

275.  Icteria  virens  (Linn.).     Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

A  very  rare  summer  resident,  except  locally,  and  in  the  valleys 
of  Berkshire  County  where  it  is  not  rare  in  summer. 

Amherst:  "One  instance."  Berkshire:  "A  not  rare  summer  i-esi- 
dent."  Bristol  County:  "Rare  summer  resident."  BrookHne  :  One 
record.  Cambridge  :  Rather  rare  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  One 
instance."  Dedham :  Recorded.  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant. 
Rare."  [Now  locally  common.]  Springfield:  "  Rare,  but  regular  summer 
resident."  Templeton  :  [One  instance,  Winchendon. — Brewster.]  ^A^elles- 
ley  :   "  Rare  local,  summer  resident." 

276.  Geothlypis  trichas  brachidactyla  (Swains.).  Mary- 
land Yellow-throat. 

An    abundant   summer  resident,   occasional   in  winter,   having 
been  twice  observed  at  Fresh  Pond,  Cambridge,  on  January  13 
1890^  and  once  in  December,'  and  at  Framingharn  in  January,  1884.* 

April  30  to  October  21  (November  27);  (Winter). 

Amherst:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common 
summer  resident.  Bristol  County:  "  Very  common  summer  resident." 
Brookhne :  "Common  slimmer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant 
summer    resident.  Cohasset:     "Abundant    in    summer."       Dedham: 

"  \'ery  common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Com- 
mon summer    resident."       Springfield:    "Abundant  summer  resident." 

1  Faxon  and  Hoffmann;  Birds  of  Berkshire,  1900,  pp.  126,  127,  pp.  20,  21 
of  separate. 

'^Deane  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  V,  No.  2,  Apr.,  18S0,  pp.  117,  iiS. 

3  Hitchcock ;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  p.  407. 

**  Gopeland  ;  in  MS. 

"Eastman;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  3,  July,  1897,  p.  327. 

^ Faxon;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  p.  409. 

'  Faxon  ;  in  verbis. 

«  Browne ;  Auk,  Vol.  I,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1884,  p.  389. 


I02  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

Templeton :      "Common    summer    resident.''      Wellesley :     ^'Abundant 
summer  resident." 

277.  Geothlypis  Philadelphia  (Wils.).  Mourning  War- 
bler. 

A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  occurring  only  in  Berkshire 
County  as  a  summer  resident,  where  it  is  of  very  restricted  range. 

May  14  to  June  6;   Summer;   September. 

Amherst:  "One  instance."  Berkshire:  "Summer  resident."  Cam- 
bridge: Rare  transient  visitant.  Springfield:  "Rare  spring  and  autumn 
migrant."     Wellesley:    "  Rare  migrant." 

278.  Geothlypis  agilis  (Wils.).  Connecticut  Warbler. 

A  very  rare  spring,  but  not  uncommon  autumn  migrant.  It  has 
been  only  twice  reported,  to  our  knowledge,  in  spring,  once  at 
Ashland  on  May  17  and  19,  1883,^  and  once  at  Readville,  May 
24,  1883.^ 

May ;  September  7  to  October  9. 

Amherst:  "Several  instances."  Berkshire:  "Very  rare  transient  in 
the  autumn."  Bristol  County  :  "  Transient  visitant  in  fall."  Brookline  : 
*' Rare  fall  migrant."  Cambridge:  Fall,  transient  visitant,  sometimes 
locally  abundant.  Dedham  :  One  instance.  Martha's  Vineyard:  "One 
instance.  September."  Springfield:  "A  rare  spring  and  common  au- 
tumn migrant."     Wellesley:  "Scarce;  rather  frequently  seen  in  fall." 

Note:     Geothlypis  formosa  (Wils.).      Kentucky   Warbler. 

In  Dr.  Holder's  List  of  the  Birds  of  Lynn  (p.  2)  he  includes  this  species 
as  then  in  the  collection  of  the  Lynn  Natural  History  Society.  As  we 
have  been  unable  to  see  this  specimen  we  make  but  this  mention  of  it. 

279.  Siurus  motacilla  (Vieill.).  Large-billed  Water 
Thrush.  ' 

A  very  rare  summer  resident  in  Berkshire  County.  A  pair 
feeding  fully  fledged  young  were  found  on  June  11,  1896,  at  Shef- 
field by  Dr.  Walter  Faxon. 3  It  has  also  been  taken  on  July  28, 
1895,  at  Springfield  ;  ^  on  April  28,  1869,  on  Mount  Tom  ;  ^    and 

1  Castle  ;  O.  cS:  O.,  Vol.  IX,  No.  6,  June,  1884,  p.  75. 

^  Maynard  ;  Quart.  Jour.  Bost.  Zoo.  Soc,  Vol.  II,  No.  3,  July,  1S83,  pp.  43,  44. 

3  Faxon;  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1896,  p.  344. 

4  Morris;  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  i,  Jan!,  1896,  p.  86. 

-'Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  577,  p.  24  of  separate. 


Annotated   List  of    Species 


103 


a  female    on  W.  A.  Stearns's  authority   at  Leverett  on  May   18, 
187 1  ;  ^  and  a  male  on  July  12,  1886,  by  H.  L.  Clark. ^ 

280.  Siurus  noveboracensis  (Gmel.).     Water  Thrush. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Although  it  has  been 
recorded  breeding  near  Boston,  and  at  other  localities  in  the 
State,  the  records  are  generally  discredited. 

April  25  to  May  30  (June  17)  ;    (July)    August  3  to  October  10. 

Amherst  :  Tavo  instances.  Berkshire  :  •'  Common  transient  visitant." 
Bristol  County:  "Rather  common  transient  visitant."  Brookline : 
"Common  migrant."  Cambridge:  Very  common  transient  visitant. 
Cohasset:  "  Common  migrant."  Dedham  :  "  Rather  common  migrant." 
Essex  County :"  Common  migrant."  Ipswich:  "  Not  common  transient 
visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "One  instance."  Springfield:  "Com- 
mon migrant  in  spring  and  autumn."  Templeton :  "Common  migrant. 
Breeds  [.^]."     Wellesley  :  "  Common  migrant." 

281,  Siurus  aurocapillus  (Linn.).     Oven-bird. 
An  abundant  summer  resident. 

May  I  to  September  27. 

Amherst:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Brook- 
line:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge :  Abundant  summer 
resident.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  in  summer."  Dedham:  "Verj'  com- 
mon." Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich  : 
"  Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  summer 
resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Templeton: 
"  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "Very  common  summer 
resident." 

282:  Dendroeca  discolor  (Vieill).      Prairie  Warbler. 

A  common  but  local  summer  resident  near  the  coast,  abundant 
at  certain  localities,  Martha's  Vineyard  and  in  Plymouth  County 
for  example. 

May  2  to  September  25. 

Bristol  County :  "  Rather  common  summer  resident."  Brookline : 
"  Common  migrant  and  rare  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Locally 
common  surpmer  resident.     Cohasset:  One  instance.  Dedham  :  "  Rather 

1  Clark  ;  Birds  of  Amherst,  1887,  p.  50. 


1 04  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

common."     Essex  County:    "Summer  visitant.      Common."     Martha's 
Vineyard:   "Abundant  summer  resident."     Springfield  :"  Rather  uncom 
mon  migrant  and  rare  suminer  resident."     Wellesley  :  "Locally  common 
suminer  resident." 

283.  Dendrceca  palmarum  (Gmel.).     Palm  Warbler. 
A  rare  autumn  migrant. 

September  7  to  October  22. 

Berkshire:  "Rare  transient  visitant."  Brookline :  One  instance. 
Cambridge:  Uncommon  transient  visitant.  Wellesley:  "Scarce  fall 
migrant." 

284.  DendrcEca  palmarum  hypochrysea  Ridgw.  Yellow 
Palm  Warbler. 

A  common  spring,  and  uncommon  autumn  migrant.  According 
to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  a  few  have  been  observed  in  winter. 

April  5  to  May  20;   September  5  to  October  22. 

Amherst:  "  Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Common  spring  and 
autumn  transient."  Bristol  County:  "Common  transient  visitant.'* 
Brookline:  "  Common  migrant."  Cambridge:  Abundant  transient  visit- 
ant. Cohasset  :  "  Fairly  common  spring  migrant."  Dedham :  Rather 
common  migrant."  Essex  County:  "Spring.  Common."  Ipswich: 
"  Abundant  transient  visitant."  Springfield :  "  Coinmon  spring  and 
autumn  migrant."  Templeton :  "  Common  migrant."  Wellesley : 
"  Common  migrant." 

285.  Dendrceca  vigorsii  (Aud.).     Pine-creeping  Warbler. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  as  a  summer  resi- 
dent common,  except  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  State  where  it 
is  rare.  Its  breeding  range  is  more  or  less  co-extensive  with  that 
of  the  Pitch  Pine  {Pi?ius  rigida).  It  has  been  occasionally  taken 
in  winter,  viz.,  Framingham,  December  5,  189 1,  and  January  i, 
1882  ;  Duxbury,  December  27,  1882  ;  Belmont,  December  15,  1890. 

April  I  to  November  25  ;   (Winter). 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Very  rare  summer  resi- 
dent." Bristol  County:  "Common  migrant  and  uncommon  summer 
resident."  Brookline :  "  Common  migrant  and  summer  resident." 
Cambridge:  Common  summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "Fairly  common 
in  summer."  Dedham:  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  resi- 
dent. Abundant."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident.'' 
Springfield:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Not  common 
summer  resident."     Wellesley:    "  Common  summerresident." 


Annotated  List  of  Species 


105 


286.  Dendrceca  virens  (Gmel.).  Black-throated  Green 
Warbler. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  summer  resident. 

April  20  to  October   19  (November  3). 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "  Common  summer  resi- 
dent," abundant  on  Grejlock.  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer  resi- 
dent." Brookline :  ''Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Very 
common  suinmer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Numerous  in  suinmer."  Ded- 
ham  :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common 
summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant  migrant,  and  not  a  very 
common  summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident  " 
Wellesley:  "  Very  common  summer  resident." 

287.  Dendrceca  dominica  (Linn.).  Yellow-throated 
Warbler. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  only  record  is:  Dedham,  one 
taken  by  G.  E.  Browne,  "  nine  or  ten  years  ago,"  [November  4, 
1866]. 1 

288.  Dendrceca  blackburniae  (Gmel).  ^Blackburnian 
Warbler. 

A  rather  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant ;  it  breeds  in 
Berkshire  County,  at  Greenfield  in  Franklin  County,  at  Holyoke 
and  Chester  in  Hampden  County,  at  Winchendon  in  Worcester 
County,  at  Roxbury  in  Suffolk  County,  and  at  Concord,  Lexing- 
ton, and  Sudbury  in  Middlesex  County. 

May  2  to  28  ;   Summer;  September  7  to  October. 

Amherst :  "/Uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire  :  "  Abundant  summer 
resident,"  more  cgmmon  on  Greylock  than  in  other  parts  of  Count  v. 
Bristol  County:  "Transient  visitant,  rare."  Brookline:  "Uncommon 
migrant."  Cambridge:  Uncommon  transient  visitant.  Dedham : 
"  Rare  migrant."     Essex    County:  "  Rare."    Martha's  Vineyard  :   "  Tran-  J 

sient.  Rare."  Springfield:  "Rather  common  spring  and  autumn  m'- 
grant."  Breeds.  Templeton:  Recorded.  "Wellesley  :  "  Rather  rare 
migrant,  sometimes  not  scarce." 

289.  Dendrceca  striata  (Forst.).     Black- poll  Warbl^^r. 
A  common  spring  and  abundant  autumn  migrant. 

»  Purdie;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VoL  III,  No.  3,  July,  187S,  p.  14C,  also 
Wakefield;  Birds  of  Dedham,  1891,  p.    74. 


Io6  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

(April  15)  May  8  to  June  14;  September  4  to  November  4. 
Amherst:  "Uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Common  transient 
visitant."  Young  seen  at  North  Adams  in  August,^  Bristol  County  : 
'' Common  transient  visitant  in  spring,  abundant  in  fall."  Brookline  : 
"  Common  spring  and  abvmdant  fall  migrant."  Cambridge:  Abundant 
transient  visitant.  Cohasset  :  "  Common  migrant."  Dedham  :  "  Com- 
mon migrant."  Essex  County  :"  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Abundant  tran- 
sient visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Common  fall  migrant."  Spring- 
field: '' Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant."  Templeton  :  "Common 
migrant."     "Wellesley  :  "  Abundant  migrant." 

290.  Dendrceca  castanea  (Wils.).    Bay-breasted  Warbler. 
A  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  varying  greatly   in   numbers  in 

different  seasons. 

May  10  to  May  26  (June  19)  ;  (July  2)  September  7  to  Octo- 
ber 8. 

Amherst:  "  Rare  and  irregular  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Rare  spring 
and  autumn  migrant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Rather  rare  transient  visitant." 
Brookline:  "  Rare  migrant."  Cambridge:  Rather  rare  transient  visitor. 
Dedham:  "  Rare  migrant."  Essex  County  :  "Rare."  Martha's  Vine- 
yard: "Transient."  Springfield:  "  Usually  rather  rare  spring  and  autumn 
migrant,  occasionally  common."  Templeton:  "  Rare  migrant."  Welles- 
ley  :   "  Rather  rare  migrant." 

291.  Dendrceca  pennsilvanica  (Linn.).  Chestnut-sided 
Warbler. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  common  summer 
resident. 

May  I  to  September  20. 

Amherst :  "  Common  migrant,  not  rare  in  summer."  Berkshire : 
"Abundant  summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer 
resident."  Brookline :  "  Common  summer  resident  and  abundant  mi- 
grant." Cambridge:  Common  summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "Numer- 
ous in  summer."  Dedham  :  "  Very  common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer 
visitant.  Rather  common."  Ipswich:  '*  Not  common  summer  resident." 
Ipswich:  "Not  common  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Fairly  common  summer  resident." 
Wellesley:  "  Very  common  in  spring  migrations,  less  common  summer 
resident." 

292.  Dendrceca  rara  Wils.     Cerulean  Warbler. 
Accidental  from  the  south.     Although  W.  A.  Stearns  recorded 

1  Brewer  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  3,  July,  1878,  p.  139. 


Annotated   List  of   Species  1 07 

taking  three  females  at  Amherst  on  May  19,  1884,  the  record  has 
generally  been  considered  to  refer  to  D.  ccerulescens.  We  can 
now,  however,  cite  the  following  definite  record :  Cohasset,  a 
female  (No.  1500),  found  by  Mr.  Howe  in  the  Bryant  Collection, 
now  deposited  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  taken  on 
[July?]  II,  1874;  the  month  is  given  on  the  original  label,  but 
it  is  impossible  to  definitely  decipher  it. 

293.  Dendroeca  maculosa  (Gmel.).  Black-and-yellow 
Warbler. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  a  common 
summer  resident  in  Berkshire  County ;  it  is  said  to  breed  at  Win- 
chendon  in  Worcester  County,  and  presumably  at  Blandford  and 
Chester  in  Hampden  County. 

May  8  to  26  ;  Summer  ;  September  11  to  October  5. 
Amherst:  "Rare  migrant."  Berkshire:  "  Common  summer  resident 
in  spruce  regions  from  Becket  northward."  Bristol  County:  "Uncom- 
mon transient  visitant."  Brookline:  *' Common  migrant."  Cambridge 
Common  transient  visitant.  Dedham  :  "Tolerably  common  migrant.' 
Essex  County:  "Spring.  Rather  rare."  Ipswich:  ''Not  uncommon 
transient  visitant."  Springfield :  "  Common  spring  and  autumn  mi- 
grant. Occasionally  breeds.?."  Templeton :  Recorded.  Wellesley . 
*' Common  migrant." 

Note:     Dendroeca  atiduboni  (Towns.).     Audubon's  Warbler. 

A  single  young  male  taken  on  November  i6,  1876,  near  Cambridge,' 
has  been  recorded  as  this  species,  but  as  we  understand,  coronata  some- 
times shows  a  tinge  of  yellow  on  the  throat,  and  as  this  specimen  which 
we  have  examined  shows  no  other  differences,  it  having  the  shorter  wings 
characteristic  of  corojiata^  a  decided  structural  difference,  we  prefer  to 
consider  its  peculiarity  of  coloration  due  to  individual  variation.  The 
specimen  is  in  Mr.  Wm.  Brewster's  collection   (No..  6925). 

294.  Dendroeca  coronata  (Linn.).  Yellow-rumped  War- 
bler. 

A  very  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant;  it  is  known  to 
breed     in    Berkshire    County,   and    probably,    at    least   once,   at 
Springfield,  and  in  Worcester  County  at  Winchendon,  and  neat 
Wachusett  Mountain  ;  (Concord  ?Maynard).  It  winters  common  ly 
on  and  near  the  coast,  especially  at  Cape  Cod. 

1  Frazar  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1877,  p.  27. 


Io8  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

April  13  to  May  24;  Summer;  August  23  to  November  26; 
Winter. 

Amherst  :"  Abundant  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Extremely  abundant 
during  migrations,  a  few  ....  breed."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant 
transient  and  common  winter  visitant."  Brookline  :  "  Abundant  mi- 
grant and  rare  winter  resident."  Cambridge  :  Abundant  transient 
visitant;  a  few  winter.  Cohasset  :  "  Numerous,  vSeptember  to  May." 
Dedham  :  "  Common  migrant,  a  few  winter."  Essex  County  :  "  Com- 
mon in  spring  and  autumn.  Rare  in  winter."  Ipswich:  "  Common  tran- 
sient visitant.  Winter."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Common  migrant  and 
winter  resident."  Springfield:  "An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  mi- 
grant, without  doubt  bred  in  1900."  Templeton  :  "Abundant  during 
migrations."     Wellesley  :    "  Abundant  migrant." 

295.  Dendroeca  caerulescens  (Gmel).  Black-throated 
Blue  Warbler. 

A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  in  the 
higher  portions  of  the  State  a  common  summer  resident. 

May  5  to  October  11   (November  19). 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Common  summer  res- 
ident." Bristol  County  :  "  Rather  common  transient  visitant."  Brook- 
line  :  "Common  migrant."  Cambridge:  Rather  common  transient 
visitant.  Dedham:  "Rather  rare  migrant."  Essex  County:  "Rare." 
Ipswich:  "Uncommon  transient  visitant."  Springfield:  "Common 
spring  and  autumn  migrant;  it  is  an  abundant  summer  resident  on  the 
slope  of  the  mountains  just  west  of  Westfield."  Templeton  :  "  Not  vei-y 
common  migrant."  [June  17  at  Winchendon. — Brewster.^]  W^ellesley  : 
"  Rather  common  migrant." 

296.  Dendroeca  sestiva  (Gmel.).     Yellow  Warbler. 
An  abundant  summer  resident. 

April  23  to  September  30. 

Amherst^:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Suminer  resi- 
dent." Common.  Bristol  County  :  "  Very  common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  Abundant  sutnmer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Abundant  sum- 
mer resident.  Cohasset:  "Numerous  in  summer."  Dedham:  "Abun- 
dant." Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich. 
"Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Uncommon 
summer  resident."  Springfield:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Temple- 
ton: "Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Common  summer 
resident." 

1  Brewster  ;  Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,  P-  ^^S. 


Annotated  List  of  Species 


109 


297.  Dendrceca  tigrina  (Gmel.).    Cape  May  Warbler. 
A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

May  2  to  25  ;  August  25  to  September  15. 

Amherst  :  "  Very  rare."  Berkshire  :  "  Rare  spring  (and  presumably 
autumn)  migrant."  Brookline :  Three  records;  in  May.  Cambridge: 
Rare  transient  visitor.  Dedham  :  One  instance.  Essex  County  :  "Very 
rare."  Springfield  :  "  Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant."  Templeton  : 
"  Very  rare."     Wellesley:    "  Rare  migrant." 

298.  Compsothlypis  americana  usneae  Brewst.  North- 
ern Parula  Warbler. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  common  summer 
resident  in  localities  where  the  Usnea  moss  is  found,  particularly 
on  Cape  Cod,  and  Martha's  Vineyard. 

April  27  to  October  9. 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Summer  resident,  not 
common,  and  local."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "  Abundant  migrant."  Cambridge:  Common  transient  visit- 
ant. Cohasset:  "Fairly  common  migrant."  Dedham:  "Common  as 
a  migrant,  a  few  breed."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Ipswich:  "Common  transient  visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident."  Springfield  :  **  Common  spring  and  autumn 
migrant  and  rather  rare  summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Common 
during  migrations;  a  few  breed."  Wellesley:  "Common  migrant; 
breeds  locally." 

299.  Helminthophila  peregrina  (Wils.) .  Tennessee  War- 
bler. 

A  very  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  The  fact  of  a  bird 
being  heard  singing  near  the  summit  of  Mount  Greylock,  July  15, 
and  16,  1888,^  indicates  its  possible  breeding  in  the  State  although 
there  is  no  satisfactory  evidence  on  this  point. 

May  10  to  30;    (July  15  and  16)  ;  August  and  September. 

Berkshire  :  "  Rare  spring  migrant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Rare  transient 
visitor."  Cambridge :  Rare  transient  visitant.  Dedham  :  "  Several." 
Springfield:  "Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant."  Wellesley:  "Rare 
migrant."  . 

300.  Helminthophila  celata  (Say).  Orange-crowned 
Warbler. 

An  extremely  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  it  has  been 

1  Faxon;  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1889,  p.  102. 


IIP  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

found  in  the  State  in  winter.  The  records  are  :  Sprmgfield,  one  was 
shot  May  15,  1863,  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  who  saw  several  other 
birds  at  the  same  time,  which  he  believed  to  be  of  this  species ;  ^ 
Lynn^  one  taken  January  i,  1875  5^  Co72cord,  a  female  was  taken 
by  Mr.  Wm.  Brewster  on  October  2,  1876  ;  3  Belmont,  an  adult  male 
captured  in  the  autumn  of  1885  by  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw.* 

301.  Helminthophila  rubricapilla  (Wils.).  Nashville 
Warbler. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  a  rather  common 
summer  resident.  There  is  one  winter  record,  of  a  bird  found  at 
Swampscott,  hung  in  a  barberry  bush  by  a  shrike,  on  January  31, 
1890  ;   the  bird  had  not  been  dead  over  two  weeks. ^ 

(April  20)  April  28  to  October  i. 

Amherst:  "Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  "  Abundant  migrant  and 
common  summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Rare  summer  resident, 
common  transient  visitant."  Brookline:  "Common  migrant  and  not 
uncommon  summer  resident."  Cambridge :  Rather  common  summer 
resident;  more  common  transient  visitant.  Cohasset :  "Fairly  com- 
mon." Dedham  :  "  Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant  .... 
quite  common."  Ipswich:  "Common  transient  visitant."  Springfield: 
"Very  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  rather  uncommon  sum- 
mer resident."  Templeton  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  : 
"  Common  migrant,  less  common  summer  resident." 

302.  Helminthophila  chrysoptera (Linn.).  Golden-winged 
Warbler. 

A  rather  common,  but  very  local  summer  resident  at  the  lower 
altitudes  in  the  State. 

May  7  to  August  25. 

Amherst :  Recorded.  Brookline :  "Common  migrant,  and  rare  svmimer 
resident."  Cambridge :  Not  uncommon  summer  resident.  Dedham  : 
"  More  common  each  year."  Springfield  :  "  A  very  rare  summer  resi- 
dent." Templeton:  [A  male  seen  in  May,  1888,  at  Winchendon. — Brews- 
ter.]    Wellesley:  '*  Locally  common." 

1 

^  Allen  ;    Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  p.  60. 

=^Brewdr;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XVII,  1875,  P-  439- 

3  Brewster;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No.  4,  Nov.,  1876,  pp.  94,  95. 

4  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1886,  p.  278. 
■'*  Faxon;    Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1890,  p.  409. 


Annotated  List   of   Species  III 

Note :  Hehntntkophila  leucobrotickialis  (Brewst.).  Brewster's  War- 
bler. • 

The  claims  of  this  supposed  species  to  recognition  seem  still  to  be  in 
doubt,  hence  it  is  not  here  enumerated.  Typical  specimens  have  been  re- 
corded from  Hudson,^  in  May  or  June,  1858,  and  Newtonville,  May  18, 
1870.  -This  is  the  typespecimen.  (See  Brewster;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club, 
Vol.  \T,  1881,  pp.  218-225,  anti  Ridgway ;  Auk,  Vol.  II,  1885,  pp.  359-363, 
and  Brewster;  ibid.,  Vol.  Ill,  1886,  p.  411.) 

303.  Helminthophila  pinus  (Linn.).  Blue-winged  War- 
bler. * 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are:  Dedham,  "a 
small  flock  "  was  found  about  the  12th  or  15th  of  May,  1857,  by 
E.  A.  Samuels.  It  seems  probable  that  one  of  these  birds  is  the 
specimen  referred  to  by  Cabot  in  1858  as  presented  to  the  Boston 
Society  of  Natural  History  ;  3  West  Roxbiiry,  a  male  was  captured 
May  17,  1878,  by  Mr.  C.  N.  Hammond;*  Dorchester^  one  was 
seen  May  15,  1897,  by  Forster  H.  Brackett;^  Taunton,  one  was 
taken  by  J.  H.  Morse   (date  unknown).*' 

304.  Helmitherus  vermivorus  (Gmel.).  Worm-eating 
Warbler. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are:  Easthamptoji,  W. 
A.  Stearns  says  he  has  seen  the  bird  there  :  ^  Cambridge,  a  female 
was  shot  September  19,  1881,  by  Mr.  Henry  M.  Spelman  ;  ^  Mr. 
[A.  L.]  Babcock  feels  very  certain  that  he  took  an  example  of  this 
species  at  Sherborn  ....  but  the  specimen  was  not  preserved  ;* 
Peabody's  (1839,  p.  312)  statement  that  it  nested  at  Cambridge 
was  without  doubt  an  error. 

305.  Protonotaria  citrea  (Bodd.).  Prothonotary  War- 
bler. 

Accidental  from  the  south.     The  records  are :  South  Abi?igto?t^ 

iPurdie;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  3,, July,  1879,  P-  184. 
2  Brewster;  Amer.  Sportsman,  Vol.  V,  Oct.,  1874,  p.  33. 
^  Samuels  ;  Ornithology  &  Oology  of  N.  E.,  1867,  p.  213. 
''Deane;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1878,  p.  188. 
"Brackett;  Auk,  Vol.  XV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1898,  p.  59. 
^Copeland;  teste  Bent,  in  AfS. 

7  Stearns  &  Coues;   N.  E.  Bird  Life,  Vol.  I,  1881,  p.  rii. 

8  Spelman;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1881,  p.  246. 
®  Morse  ;  Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  49. 


112  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

a  male  was  shot  not  previous  to  1880  by  George  Dwelley  ;  ^ 
Northampton^  one  shot  on  high  ground  in  May,  1883,  by  E.  O. 
Damon,  and  two  others  shot  at  the  same  time  by  a  friend  of  his 
and  at  the  same  place  ;  ^  Concord^  a  male  shot  May  9,  1886,  on 
the  Assabet  River  ;  an  immature  female  August  17,  1886,  and  an 
adult  male  August  23,  1886  ;  ^  Atiburfidale,  a  male  was  noted 
singing  by  the  Charles  River  in  a  tliicket  on  June  19,  1890,  and 
on  the  20th  it  was  shot  there.  There  may  be  some  reason  for 
supposing  that  a  pair  was  breeding  here  ;  *  Hyde  Park,  one  was 
taken  May  21,  1892  ;^  Mattapan  Station^or\e  was  picked  up  dead 
September  15,  1894,  and  was  apparently  killed  by  flying  against 
the  telegraph  wires.® 

^     306.  'Mniotilta  varia  (Linn.).     Black-and-white  Warbler. 

A  very  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  not  uncommon 
summer  resident. 

April  18  to  October  29  (December  5). 

Amherst :  "  Common  migrant  but  rare  summer  resident."  Berkshire  : 
"Not  uncommon  summer  resident.  Bristol  County:  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant  and  summer  resident." 
Cambridge:  Very  common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "Very 
numergus."  Dedham :  "Very  common."  Essex  County:  "Sum- 
mer visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident."  Templeton :  "Rare."  "Wellesley  :  "Common 
summer  resident." 

307.    Piranga  rubra  (Linn.).     Summer  Tanager. 

Accidental  from  the  south.  The  records  are :  Ly?in,  two 
were  taken  after  a  severe  storm,  April  21,  18^2,  according  to 
S.  Jillson  ;  "^  Swampscott,  a  bird  captured  in  June,  1866  ;  ^  Amherst, 

1  Purdie  ;  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1886,  p.  488. 

2  Sage  ;  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1887,  p.  164. 

•'  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  3,  July,  1886,  pp.  410,  411,  and  ibid.,  p.  488. 

"^  Kennard ;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  7,  July,  1890,  p.  no. 

^C.  E.  B.;   Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXXVIII,  June  16,  1892,  p.  362. 

^Frazer;  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1895,  p.  84. 

^  Putnam ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  224. 

s  Allen  ;  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  X,  1878,  p.  15. 


Annotated   List  of  Species 


113 


one  taken  in  August,  1867  ;^  Framingham,  an  immature  male  was 
taken  in  May,  *' some  years  since,"  /.  e.  prior  to  1870,  by  Mr. 
A.   L.  Babcock  } 

308.  Piranga  ludoviciana  (Wils.).     Western  Tanager. 
Accidental  from  the  west.     There  is   but  one  record :    Salem, 

(not  Lynn)  a  bird  taken  aUve  on  January  20,  1878.3 

309.  Piranga  erythromelas  Vieill.     Scarlet  Tanager. 
A  common  summer  resident. 

(May  4)  May  8  to  October  6. 

Amherst:  "Not  uncommon  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Rather  com- 
mon summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Common  in  summer."  Dedham  : 
''Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich: 
"Not  common."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Summer  resident.  Rare." 
Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton :  "Tolerably 
common  in  summer."     Wellesley  :    "  Common  summer  resident." 

310.  Quiscalus  quiscula  (Linn.).     Purple  Grackle. 

A  summer  resident  in  the  southernmost  portions  of  the  State, 
typical  quiscula  being  found  only  occasionally,  while  intergrades 
showing  a  preponderance  of  quiscula  blood  predominate  on  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard,  and  Nantucket  and  in  Barnstable  and  Bristol 
Counties.  About  Boston,  Mr.  William  Brewster  writes  that  only  10% 
of  the  genus  Quiscalus  show  traces  of  quiscula  blood.* 

Bristol  County :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard : 
"Abundant  summer  resident." 

311.  Quiscalus  quiscula  seneus  (Ridgw.),  Bronzed 
Grackle. 

A  common  summer  resident  of  the  more  northern  portions  of 
the  State,  wintering  occasionally  at  P'resh  Pond,  Cambridge,  and 
at  Longmeadow,  and  probably  in  other  favorable  localities. 

(March  i)  March  11  to  November  22. 

>  Stearns  &  Coues  ;  N.  E.  Bird  Life,  Vol.  I,  188 1,  p.  179. 

^  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  u,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  578,  p.  25  of  separate. 

^  Brewer;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXI,  March  14,  1878,  p.  95. 

*  Brewster  ;  Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,  pp.  269,  270. 


1 14  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common 
summer  resident."  Brookline :  "  Abundant  local  summer  resident. '*^ 
Cambridge:  Abundant  summer  resident.  Occasionally  in  winter.  Cohas- 
set :  "Numerous."  Dedham :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer 
visitant.  Abundant.''  Ipswich:  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Spring- 
field: "  Common  summer  resident."  Wintered  1900— '01.  Templeton  : 
"Abundant  in  summer."    W^ellesley  :    "Common  summer  resident." 

312.  Scolecophagus   carolinus  (Mtill).      Rusty  Grackle. 
A  very  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant.     Occasionally  in 

spring  whjle  with  us  this  species  is  heard  to  sing  its  peculiar  breed- 
ing song. 

(February  8)  February  20  to  May  18  ;  September  30  to  Novem- 
ber 25. 

Amherst:  "  Rare  but  regular  migrant."  Berkshire:  "  Transient  visit- 
ant in  the  spring  and  autumn,  abundant  in  the  autumn."  Bristol  County  : 
"  Common  transient  visitant."  Brookline:  "Abundant  spring  and  un- 
common fall  migrant."  Cambridge  :  Very  common  transient  visitant. 
Cohasset :  "  Fairly  common."  Dedham  :  "  Common  migrant."  Essex 
County:  "Spring  and  autumn.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Rather  common 
transient  visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "One  instance."  Springfield: 
"  Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor."  Templeton:  "Common  tran- 
sient visitor."     Wellesley  :  "Common  migrant." 

313.  Icterus  galbula  (Linn.).     Baltimore  Oriole. 
An  abundant  summer  resident. 

(April)  May  i  to  September  6  (November  13,  15,^  18^). 
Amherst:  "^Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident  of  the  low  country."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer 
resident."  Brookline  :"  Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Very 
common  summer  resident.  Cohasset:  "Abundant."  Dedham:  "Com- 
mon." Essex  County :  "  Summer  visitant.  .Common."  Ipswich : 
"  Abundant  summer  visitant."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Rare  summer  resi- 
dent." Springfield:  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Templeton:  "Abun- 
dant summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Abundant  in  summer."  Welles- 
ley  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 

314.  Icterus  spurius  (Linn.).     Orchard  Oriole. 

A  rare   and  irregular  summer  resident,  except   in  the  western 

ijngalls;  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1886,  p.  135. 

"■  Editor  ;  O.  &  C,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  12    Dec,  1888,  p.  191. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  I  I  ^ 

portions  of  the    State,    where   it    appears  to   be    not    uncommon. 
(May  i)  May  8  to  August. 

Amherst :  "  Occasional  and  quite  rare."  Berkshire  :  "  Not  uncommon 
summer  resident."  Brookline  :  One  instance.  Cambridge:  Summer  resi- 
dent, sometimes  rather  common.  Dedham :  One  instance.  Ipswich:  "A 
pair  nested  in  1895  and  1896."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  A  pair  nested  at 
Cottage  City  in  1896."  Springfield:  "Not  uncommon  summer  resident 
in  the  river  towns.''     Wellesley :   "  Rare  summer  resident." 

315.  Sturnella  magna  (Linn.).     Meadowlark. 

A  common  summer  resident ;  wintering  near  the  coast  and 
sparingly  inland. 

March  8  to  November  26  ;  Winter. 

Amherst:  "  Common  summer  resident."-  Berkshire:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident  of  the  low  country."  Bristol  County  :  *'  Permanent  resident, 
common  in  summer,  much  less  so  in  winter."  Cambridge  :  Common 
summer  resident.  Not  uncommon  winter  visitant.  Cohasset :  "  Com- 
mon,  rare  in  winter,"  Dedham:  "Tolerably  common."  Essex  County: 
"Resident.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Not 
uncommon  in  winter.  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Common  resident."  Spring- 
field :  "  Common  summer  and  rather  rare  winter  resident."  Templeton  : 
"  Formerl}'  abundant,  but  now  rare."  Wellesley:  "Common  summer 
resident sometimes  seen  in  winter." 

316.  Agelseus  phoeniceus  (Linn.).  Red-winged  Black- 
bird. 

A  common,  if  not  abundant  summer  resident,  wintering  rarely 
and  locally  at  Fresh  Pond,  Cambridge,^  at  Longmeadow,  Spring- 
field,^ and  at  Taunton. 

(February  25)  March  6  to  October  20  (November  28);  Winter. 

Amherst :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Bristol  County  :"  Abundant  summer  resident."  Brook- 
line  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge :  '  Abundant  summer 
resident.  Cohasset:  "Numerous."  Dedham:  "Common."  Essex 
County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich :"  Abundant  sum- 
mer resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Abundant  siimmer  resident." 
Springfield  :  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Wintered  in  1 896-' 7.  Tem- 
pleton: "  Abundant  in  summer."  Wellesley:  "  Abundant  summer  resi- 
dent." 

1  Spelman ;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  pp.  288,  289. 

2  Morris  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1897,  p.  100. 


Il6  Birds  OF  Massachusetts 

317.  Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  (Bonap.).  Yellow- 
headed  Blackbird. 

Accidental  from  the  west.  There  are  three  records  :  Eastham, 
two  taken  by  a  Mr.  Loud  on  September  10,  1877  ;  ^  Watertown^  one 
in  immature  plumage  was  taken  by  Frank  Sanger  on  October  15, 
1869  ;  ^  Monomoy  Isla?td,  a  female  taken  on  September  8,  1897,  by 
Mr.  W.  B.  Revere.3 

318.  Molothrus  ater  (Bodd.).     Cowbird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  wintering  occasionally  at  Belmont, 
Watertown  and  Fresh  Pond,  Cambridge,  and  perhaps  elsewhere 
in  suitable  localities. 

(March  i)  March  1 1  to  October  21  ;  Winter.'* 

Amherst :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire  :  "  Fairly  common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "  Rather  common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  Common, summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Very  common 
summer  resident.  Occasional  in  winter.  Cohasset  :  "  Common." 
Dedham  :  "Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Ipswich:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "Uncom- 
mon summer  resident."  Springfield  :  "  Rather  common  summer  resi- 
dent." Templeton :  "Not  common  summer  resident."  Wellesley: 
"  Coinmon  summer  resident,  ....  sometimes  winters." 

319.  Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (Linn.).     Bobolink. 

A  common  summer  resident,  in  some  localities  abundant,  but  on 
Cape  Cod  apparently  absent. 

(April  27)  May  i  to  September  29. 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Very  com- 
mon summer  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Very  common 
summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Numerous."  Dedham  :  "  Common." 
Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Transient."  Springfield  : 
*'  Abundant  summer  resident,"  Templeton  :  "  Common  in  summer." 
Wellesley:    "Common  summer  resident." 

1  Allen;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  X,  1878,  p.  18. 

^  Maynard  ;  Nat.  Guide,  1870,  p.  122. 

^  Bishop;  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1901,  p.  195. 

''Spelman;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1883,  pp.  121, 
122,  Chadbourne  ;  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1888,  p.  207,  and  Faxon;  Auk, 
Vol.  VI,  No.  I,  Jan.,  1889,  p.  72. 


Annotated   List   of   Species 


117 


320.  Calamospiza  melanocorys  Stejn.      Lark  Bunting. 
Accidental  from  the  west.     There  is  but  one  record  :  Lynn,    a 

male  shot  by  Mr.  N.  Vickary,  December  5,  1877. ^  This  speci- 
men is  now  in  the  mounted  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Compara- 
tive Zoology. 

321.  Spiza  americana  (Gmel.).     Black-throated  Bunting. 
Formerly  an  uncommon   summer  resident  along  the  coast  and 

in  the  western  valley  bottoms  until  about  1850.  Since  then  it  has 
been  recorded  from  Berkshire,  1858,  Holyoke,  1866,  Newtonville, 
1867,  West  Newbury,  1873,  Medford,  1877,  Hyde  Park,  1878, 
Readville,  1879,  ^"<i  ^^^  xviO^t  recent  records  are :  Worcester  County^ 
one  taken  by  I.  G.  Greene,  October  3,  1889  ;^  and  Highland  Light. 
on  Cape  Cod,  an  immature  male  shot  September  30,  i. 


322.  Passerina  cyanea   (Linn.).     Indigo-bird. 

A  common  summer  resident,  except  on  Cape  Cod,  where  it  is 
said  to  be  unknown. 

May  9  to  October  29. 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County  :  "  Not  common  summer  resident." 
Brookline  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Rather  com- 
mon summer  resident.  Dedham  :  "  Rather  common."  Essex  County  : 
"Summer  visitant.  Common."  Ipswich  :  "Not  common  summer 
resident."  Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Templeton : 
"Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Rather  common;  but  some- 
what local  summer  resident." 

323.  Guiraca  caerulea  (Linn.).     Blue  Grosbeak. 

Accidental  visitant  from  the  south.  Peabody  in  his  1839  Re- 
port, mentions  that  one  was  ''  unquestionably  seen  "  by  a  friend. 
The  only  definite  record  is  :  Brookline,  one  was  shot  on  May  29, 
1880,  by  Mr.  Gordon  Plummer.'* 


1  Allen;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1878,  p.  48. 

^Greene;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  11,  Nov.,  1889,  p.  174. 

'^  Miller;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  p.  229. 

4  Allen;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  V,  No.  3,  July,  1880,  p.  184. 


Il8  Birds  of   Massachusetts 

324.  Zamelodia  ludoviciana  (Linn.).  Rose-breasted  Gros- 
beak. 

A  common  summer  resident,  except  on  Cape  Cod,  where  it  is 
apparently  absent.  Tliis  bird  has  steadily  increased  in  numbers 
in  the  State  since  about  1850. 

(April  26)  May  2  to  October  3. 

Amherst:  "Uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire:  "  Fairh'  common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline :  "Common  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Common 
suifimer  resident.  Dedham :  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer 
visitant."  Formerly  rftre.  Ipswich:  "A  few  seen."  Martha's  Vine- 
yard; "One  instance."  Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Templeton  :  "  Rare  summer  resident."  "Wellesley  :  "Common  summer 
resident." 

325.  Cardinalis  cardinalis    (Linn.).     Cardinal  Grosbeak. 

Accidental  from  the  south ;  there  is  one  instance  of  its  breed- 
ing, viz.,  at  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Cambridge,  about  1835.^  It  is 
impossible  to  state  what  proportion  of  the  males  recorded  from 
Massachusetts  were  escaped  cage-birds  or  actual  stragglers  :  .  the 
single  female  recorded  from  Arlington^  November  i,  1889,  by  Dr. 
Walter  Faxon,  was  probably  a  straggler.^ 

Amherst:  Three  or  four  instances.  Brookline:  One  instance.  Cam- 
bridge :  Casual.  Two  instances.  Dedham  :  One  instance.  Springfield  : 
*' Accidental  visitor."     Wellesley;    "  Occasionally  seen." 

326.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (Linn.).     Towhee. 

A  common  summer  resident,  casual  in  winter,  when  it  has  l:)een 
observed  at  Bedford,^  Brookline,^  Jamaica  Plain,*  and  Sandwich.^ 

(April  2)    April  18  to  October  22  (November  30);   (Winter). 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Summer  resi- 
dent, not  rare."  Bristol  County:  "Very  common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Winter.  Cambridge:  Com- 
mon summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Ver}^  numerous  in  suminer."  Ded- 
ham :     "Common."      Essex    County:    "Summer    visitant.     Common." 

^Audubon;  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  Ill,  i860,  p.  201. 

^  Morse  ;  Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  32. 

^  Howe;  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  3,  July,  1896,  pp.  178,  and  260,  262. 

^  Howe  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1898,  p.  189. 

°  "  Mergus  "  ;    Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXII,  Mar.  6,  1884,  p.  103. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  IIQ 

Ipswich:  "  Not  common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "Very 
abundant  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Common  summer  resi- 
dent." Templeton  ;  "  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Com- 
mon summer  resident." 


327.  Passerella  iliaca  (Merr.).     Fox  Sparrow. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  Migrant,  casual  in  winter. 

(February  4^  and  17^)  Marcii  9  to  April  25;  (September  17) 
October  15  to  November  20  (December  6). 

Amherst:  "  Common  spring  and  fall  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Com- 
mon transient  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Common  transient  visitant." 
Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant."  Cambridge:  Abundant  transient  visit- 
ant. Cohasset :  "Fairly  common  migrant."  Dedham :  "Common  mi- 
grant." Essex  County :  ^Migrant.  "Abundant."  Springfield:  "  Com- 
mon spring  and  autumn  migrant."  Templeton:  "Common  during  mi- 
grations."    Wellesley  :  "  Common  migrant."  f 

328.  Melospiza  georgiana  (Lath.).     Swamp  Sparrow. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  somewhat  local 
summer  resident,  wintering  at  Fresh  Pond,  Cambridge.^ 

(March  16)  March  27  to  November  30  ;  Winter. 
Amherst:  "Common."  Berkshire:  "Rather  common  summer  resi- 
dent." Bristol  County:  "Uncommon  summer  resident."  Brookline: 
"Common  migrant  and.  ...  summer  resident."  Cambridge  :  Abundant 
summer  resident;  a  few  winter.  Cohasset:  "Not  common  summer  res- 
ident." Dedham:  "Common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant. 
Common."  Springfield:  "  Rather  uncommon  summer  resident."  Tem- 
pleton .  "  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley  :  "  Not  uncommon 
local  summer  resident." 

329.  Melospiza  lincolnii  (Aud.).     Lincoln's  Finch. 
An  uncommon  spring  and  common  autumn  migrant."* 

May  7  to  June  i  ;  September  12  to  October   10  (November  i). 

Amherst:  One  instance.  May.  Berkshire:  "  Transient  visitant  in  the 
spring  and  autumn,  common,  more  numerous  in  the  autumn."  Cam- 
bridge :  Uncommon  transient  visitant.  Springfield :  Several  instance-s. 
AVcllesley  :  "  Scarce  migrant." 

1  Job;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1883,  p.  150. 

'  Chadbourne ;  Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1885,  P-  216. 

*  Brewster;  Bird- Lore,  Vol.  II,  No.  4,  Aug.,  1900,  pp.  107-112. 


I20  Birds  OF  Massachusetts 

330.  Melospiza  melodia  (Wils.).     Song  Sparrow. 

A  very  common  summer  resident,  and  rather  common  winter 
resident,  except  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  State. 

March  12  to  November  19  ;  Winter. 

Amherst:  "  An  abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "An  abun- 
dant summer  resident."  A  few  winter,  Bristol  County  :  "  Permanent 
resident,  abundant  in  summer,  locally  common  in  winter."  Brookline : 
"  Abundant  summer  and  uncommon  winter  resident."  Cambridge  :  Very 
abundant  summer  resident,  locally  common  winter  visitant.  Cohasset : 
"  Numerous  in  summer,  common  in  winter."  Dedham  :  "Very  abun- 
dant; a  few  winter."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard :  "Com- 
mon resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident,  and  often 
winters."  Templeton  :  "  Abundant  ....  a  few  winter."  Wellesley: 
"Abundant  summer  resident  ....  frequently  seen  in  winter." 

331.  Junco  hiemalis  (Linn.).     Slate-colored  Snowbird. 
An  abundant  spring  and  autumn   migrant,  and  rather   common 

winter  resident.  It  breeds  in  Berkshire  County,  and  in  Hampden 
County  on  Mts.  Holyoke,  Nonotuck  and  Tom,  in  Worcester 
County  at  Templeton,  Winchendon,  Mount  Wachusett,  Mount 
Watatic,  and  near  Fitchburg. 

September  18  to  May  7  ;   Summer. 

Amherst  :  "Common  and  sometimes  abundant  winter  resident."  Berk- 
shire :  "  Abundant  transient  in  the  spring  and  autumn,  and  a  fairly  coin- 
mon  summer  resident."  Sometimes  in  the  winter.  Bristol  County : 
"Common  winter  visitant.  Abundant  on  migrations."  Brookline: 
"Abundant  migrant,  and  common  winter  resident."  Cambridge: 
Rather  common  winter  visitant.  Abundant  transient  visitant.  Cohasset: 
"  Numerous  in  winter."  Dedham  :  "  Common  winter^  resident."  Essex 
County:  Winter.  "Abundant."  Ipswich:  "Common  winter  visitant." 
Martha's  Vineyard:  "  Common  winter  resident."  Springfield:  "An  abun- 
dant  migrant A  few  winter."     Occasionally    breeds.       Templeton: 

"Abundant  in  spring  and  fall. 'Breeds."  Wellesley:  "Abundant  migrant 
and  common  winter  resident." 

332.  Junco  hiemalis  shufeldti  Coale.  Shufeldt's  Snow- 
bird. 

Accidental  from  the  west.  There  is  but  one  record  :  Water- 
town,  a  female  was  shot  March  25,  1874.  This  bird  was  originally 
recorded  as/.  //.  oregonns} 

1  Brewster;  Bull.  Nuttt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1876,  p.  19,  and  in 
Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,  p.  234. 


Annotated   List   of   Species  121 

333-    Spizella  pusilla  (Wils.).     Field  Sparrow. 

A  common  summer  resident,  wintering  rarely  near  the  coast,  /.  e. 
at  Barnstable,^  Bristol  County,^  Wakefield  3  and  Wellesley.3 
(March  29)  April  i  to  November  13  ;   Winter. 

Amherst:  "Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "  Common  sum- 
mer resident.''  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident,  casual  in 
winter  in  small  numbers."  Brookline  :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Cambridge:  Common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "Common  sum- 
mer resident."  Dedham  :  "  Common."  Essex  County  :  "  Summer 
visitant.  Common."  Ipswich:  "Uncommon  summer  resident."  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard :  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Common 
summer  resident."  Templeton  :  "  Common  summer  resident."  Welles- 
ley:    "  Common  summer  resident."     Winter. 

334.  Spizella  breweri  Cass.     Brewer's  Sparrow. 
Accidental  from  the  west.       There  is  but  one  record  :    Watcr- 

tinun,  a  young  male  was  shot  by  Mr.  William  Stone,  on  December 

15,  1873.* 

335.  Spizella  socialis  (Wils.).     Chipping  Sparrow. 
An  abimdant  summer  resident. 

(March  13^)  April  5  to  November  25  (December  23^). 
Amherst:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  [Stearns'  record  of  a  flock 
seen  on  March  3  seems  open  to  question.]  Berkshire  :  "  Abundant 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Abundant  summer  resident.'^ 
Brookline:  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Abundant  sum- 
mer resident.  Cohasset:  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Dedham:  "Ex- 
tremely abundant."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  :  "Abun- 
dant summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Abundant  summer  resident." 
Templeton:  "Abimdant  summer  resident."  Wellesley :  "Abundant 
summer  resident." 

336.  Spizella  monticola  (Gmel).     Tree  Sparrow. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  not  uncommon  winter 

1  Hoffmann;  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1895,  P-  188. 

^  Copeland  ;  in  MS. 

^  Torrey  ;  Auk,  Vol.  X,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1893,  P-  ^05. 

*  Brewster  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  6,  June,  1874,  pp.  366,  367. 

^Cahoon;  Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XX,  p.  224. 

«  White;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  6,  June,  1882,  p.  82. 


122  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

resident.     Samuel's  statement  that  he  found  it  nesting  in  Massa- 
chusetts is  doubtless  an  error. 

(September  21)  October  16  to  April  28  (May  7). 
Amherst:  "Common  winter  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  mi- 
grant in  spring  and  autumn. ...  Not  common  in  winter."  Bristol 
County:  "Common  winter  visitant,"  Brookline :  "Common  winter 
resident."  Cambridge  :  Common  winter  visitant.  Abundant  transient 
visitant.  Cohasset  :  "  Common  winter  resident."  Dedham  :  "  Common  in 
winter."  Essex  County  :"  Abundant."  Ipswich:  "  Abundant  winter  visit- 
ant." Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Uncommon  winter  resident."  Springfield  : 
"Common  winter  resident.  Abundant  in  spring  and  autumn."  Tem- 
pleton :  "  Common  in  winter."  Wellesley :  "  Common  migrant,  less 
common  winter  resident." 

337.  Zonotrichia  albicollis  (Gmel.).  White-throated 
Sparrow. 

An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  occasionally  wintering. 
It  has  been  found  breeding  in  Worcester  County,  at  Watatic 
Mountain,^  Hubbardston,"^  Winchendon  ;  3  in  Hampden  County, 
at  Granville,  Blandford  ^  and  Springfield ;'  in  Middlesex  County, 
at    Wakefield^  and  Framingham,^  and  in  Berkshire  County. 

April  22  to  May  26;  Summer;  September  i  to  November  24; 
Winter. 

Amherst:  "  Common  migrant."  Berkshire:  Common  spring  and  fall 
migrant.  Breeding  rarely  in  valleys,  but  in  considerable  numbers  on 
Greylock  range  and  on  Hoosac  plateau.  Bristol  County  :  "  Common 
transient  visitant."  A  few  winter.  Brookline:  "  Common  migrant  and 
rare  winter  resident."  Cambridge:  Very  common  transient  visitant ;  a 
few  winter.  .Cohasset:  "-Common  migrant."  Dedham:  "Common 
migrant."  Essex  County  :  "  Abundant."  Ipswich  :  "  Common  tran- 
sient visitant."  Springfield  :  "Very  common  spring  and  autumn  visitor. 
Breeds  occasionally."  Templeton :  "Common  migrant."  Wellesley: 
"  Common  migrant." 

338.  Zonotrichia  leucophrys  (Forst.).  White-crowned 
Sparrow. 

1  Faxon  ;  in  verbis. 

2  Howe ;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1895,  p.  406. 
3 Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1888,  p.  390. 

*  Morris;  Birds  of  Springfield,  1901,  p.  29. 

^Torrey;  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct.,  1888,  pp.  426,  427. 

*  Browne;   Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  V,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1880,  p.  52. 


Annotated    List    of    Species 


123 


A  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  except  in  the  Berkshires, 
where  it  is  apparently  not  uncommon. 

May  5  to  May  27  (June  6);  September  23  to  November  5. 
Amherst:  "  Irregular  migrant  in  May."  Berkshire  :  "  Common  tran- 
sient visitant  in  the  valley  country."  Bristol  County:  "  Rare  transient 
visitant."  Brookline :  "Rare  migrant."  Cambridge:  Uncommon  tran- 
sient visitant.  Cohasset :  "  Rare  in  May  ;  once  in  June."  Dedham : 
"  Very  rare."  Essex  County  :  "Very  rare."  Ipswich:  "  Several  seen." 
Springfield:  "Rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor."  Templeton :  "Rare 
migrant."     Wellesley  :    "  Scarce  migrant." 

339.  Chondestes' grammacus  (Say).     Lark  Finch. 
Accidental  from  the   west.     The   records  are  :    Gloucester^  one 

about  1845,  according  to  S.  Jillson  ;  ^  Newtonville^  a  female  was 
taken  November  25,  1877,  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  ;  "^  Magnolia,  one 
taken  August  27,  1879,  t>y  ^^^'-  ^'  S-  Townsend  ;  *  Framingham, 
one  captured  April  29,  1882,  by  F.  C.  Browne.  This  bird  was 
probably  the  same  as  one  seen  in  the  same  place  on  April  6.'* 

340.  Ammodramus  maritimus  (Wils.).    Seaside  Sparrow. 
A  rare  local  summer  resident  along  the   coast.     It   was    found 

breeding  at  Westport  in  1896,  and  it  is  said  to  be  not  rare  there 
as  a  summer  resident.^  On  February  9,  1898,  Messrs.  H.  B. 
Bigelow  and  G.  C.  Shattuck  took  one  on  the  salt  marshes  of 
Sandy  Neck,  West  Barnstable  :  at  the  time  the  bird  was  supposed 
to  be  but  an  accidental  straggler,^  but  on  February  9,  1901,  Mr. 
Howe,  in  company  with  the  latter  of  the  above  gentlemen,  visited 
the  Sandy  Neck  marshes,  and  on  the  edge  of  the  dunes  at  nearly 
exactly  the  same  point,  in  a  somewhat  restricted  portion  of  the 
marshes,  flushed  and  killed  another  bird,  which  was  a  male.  The 
taking  of  two  specimens  on  the  same  marsh  would,  beside  the 
seeing  of  another  [?]  by  Mr.  Howe  on  February  6,  1901,  point 
to    the    probability    of    the  species  breeding    there.     It   has  also 


*  Putnam  ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  224. 

2  Purdie  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1878,  p.  44. 
^  Townsend  ;  ibid.,  Vol.  V,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1S80,  p.  53. 

*  Browne;  ibid..  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3,  July,  1883,  pp.  181,  182. 
^  Farley;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  3,  July,  1897,  p.  322. 
«Howe;  Auk,  Vol.  XV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1898,  p.  189. 


124 


Birds  of  Massachusetts 


been  taken  at  Nahant,  a  young  male  in  August,  1877.  This 
specimen  is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural 
History  (No.  221).^  On  Neponset  River  in  early  autumn  ;^  from 
Monomoy  Island  in  April ;  3  and  possibly  from  Stony  Brook,  near 
Boston,  in  1836  and  1837,*  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  may  be 
found  breeding  at  some  of  these  places. 
April  14  to  [September]  ;    (Winter). 

341.  Ammodramus  caudacutus  (Gmel.).  Sharp-tailed 
Sparrow. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  the  salt  marshes  of  the  coast. 
Mr.  Howe,  in  company  with  Messrs.  G.  C.  Shattuck  and  H.  B. 
Bigelow,  took  a  female  on  February  9,  1901,  on  Sandy  Neck, 
West  Barnstable,  where  it  had  undoubtedly  wintered.  The  bird 
was  shot  in  the  sand  dunes  by  the  edge  of  the  marsh.  This 
moves  the  wintering  range  of  this  species  from  New  Jersey  to 
Massachusetts. 

May  20  to  November  3  ;   (Winter). 

Cambridge:  [Formerly]  common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "Nu- 
merous summer  resident."  Ipswich:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Martha's  Vineyard:  "Uncommon  summer  resident." 

342.  Ammodramus  nelsoni    (Allen).     Nelson's  Sparrow. 
An  uncommon  autumn  and  rare  spring  migrant  along  the  coast 

from  the  west  and  northwest.  Mr.  Howe,  in  company  with  Messrs. 
G.  C.  Shattuck  and  H.  B.  Bigelow,  found  this  species  wintering  in 
small  numbers  in  the  marshes  and  about  the  cranberry  bogs  at 
Sandy  Neck,  West  Barnstable,  from  February  6  to  8,  1901. 
Eleven  birds  in  all  were  seen,  three  being  taken.  This  is  the 
only  known  wintering  record  for  these  birds  north  of  Virginia, 
where  near  Cobb's  Island  Mr.  Shattuck  found  it  wintering  not  un- 
commonly in  December  and  January,  i896-'97,  and  certainly  a 
most  interesting  occurrence.  Although  the  winter  of  i9oo-'oi  has 
been  comparatively  mild  and  open,  during  early  February  the  tem- 

1  Brewer;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1878,  p.  48. 
^  Faxon  ;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  3,  July,  1897,  pp.  320,  321. 
•'  Cahoon;  Auk,  Vol.  VII,  No.  3,  July,  1890,  pp.  289,  290. 
^Brewer;   Hist.  No.  Amer.  Birds,  Vol.  I,  1874,  p.  560. 


Annotated   List   of   Species  1 25 

perature  ranged  at  about  10°  above  zero,  and  cold,  cutting  north- 
west winds  blew  steadily  ;  the  sparrows,  however,  seemed  to  suffer 
no  inconvenience. 

May  31  ;  September  25  to  October  15  ;  (Winter). 

343.  Ammodramus  nelsoni  subvirgatus  (Dwight). 
Acadian  Sharp-tailed  Sparrow. 

A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  along  the  coast. 
May  20  to  June  8  ;    September  3  to  November  5. 
Cambridge  :  Very  common  transient  visitant.    Cohasset :    "  Common  in 
October." 

344.  Ammodramus  henslowii  (Aud.).  Henslow's  Spar- 
row. 

A  not  very  uncommon,  but  extremely  local  summer  resident. 
Most  common  in  the  central  portions  of  the  State,  absent  on  Cape 
Cod. 

May  6  to  September. 

Amherst:  First  discovered  in  1882,  [quite  numerous,  Brewster].  Berk- 
shire: "Summer  resident,  locally  distributed."  Cambridge:  Very  rare 
summer  resident.  Dedham  :  [Not  uncommon  at  Norwood].  Springfield: 
One  instance.  Templeton  :  [Breeds  at  Winchendon.  —  Brewster].  Wel- 
lesley :    "  Rather  rare  summer  resident." 

345.  Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus  (Wils.). 
Grasshopper  Sparrow. 

A  not  uncommon  local  summer  resident,  but  easily  overlooked. 
It  breeds  commonly  on  Nantucket,  Martha's  Vineyard  and  in 
the  Connecticut  Valley. 

(April  25)  May  12  to  middle  of  September. 

Berkshire  :  "  Summer  resident,  of  local  distribution."  Bristol  County  : 
"Rare  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Rare  summer  resident.  Essex 
County:  "Summer  visitant.  (Common."  Martha's  Vineyard;  "Com- 
mon summer  resident."  Springfield:  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Wellesley :   "  Scarce  but  hardly  rare,  summer  resident." 

346.  Passerculus  sandwichensis  savanna  (Wils.).  Sa- 
vanna Sparrow. 

An  abundant  migrant,  breeding  sparingly  in  most  portions  of 
the  State,  but  not  uncommonly  in  the  Berkshires  and  along  the 


126  Birds    of  Massachusetts 

coast.     It  has  been  found  wintering  at  Sandwich  on  Cape  Cod,i 
and  once  at  Longmeadow  ( i895-'96).'^ 

(March  22)  April  5  to  November  6;  (Winter). 
Amherst:  "Rather  uncommon  migrant."  Berkshire:  "Common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  transient  visitant." 
Brookline  :  "  Common  migrant."  Cambridge  :  Abundant  transient  visit- 
ant. Breeds  sparingly.  Cohasset:  "  Common  in  summer."  Dedham  : 
"Locally  common."  Essex  County:  "Summer  visitant.  Rare."  Ips- 
wich: "  Abundant  summer  resident-"  Martha's  Vineyard:  "Abundant 
summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor, 
and  a  rare  svimmer  resident."  Once  in  winter.  Wellesley  :  "Common 
migrant ....  and  locally  common  summer  resident." 

347.  Passerculus  princeps  Mayn.     Ipswich  Sparrow. 

A  common  migrant,  and  not  uncommon  winter  resident  along 
the  coast,  occurring  principally  among  the  sand  dunes. 

October  17  to  April  10. 

Cambridge  :  Casual.  One  instance.  October.  Cohasset :"  Fairly  com- 
mon in  winter."  Ipswich  :  "  Rather  common  in  late  fall,  less  so  in  win- 
ter." 

348.  Pocecetes  gramineus  (Gmel.).     Vesper  Sparrow. 
A  common,  if  not  abundant  summer  resident. 

March  29  to  October  23  (November  10). 

Amherst:  "Abundant  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common 
summer  resident."  Bristol  County:  "Common  summer  resident." 
Brookline:  "Not  uncommon  summer  resident."  Cambridge:  Very 
common  summer  resident.  Cohasset :  "  Common  summer  resident." 
Dedham:  "Common."  Essex  County:  "  Summer  visitant.  Common." 
Ipswich  :  "  Abundant  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard :  "  Common 
summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Common  summer  resident."  Tem- 
pleton :  "Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley:  "Common  summer 
resident." 

349.  Calcarius    ornatus    (Towns.).      Chestnut-collared 

LONGSPUR. 

An  accidental  visitant  from  the  we^t.  There  is  but  one  record : 
Magnolia^  near  Gloucester,  a  male  taken  July  28,  1876,  by  Mr. 
C.  W.  Townsend,  and  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Boston  Society 
of  Natural  History.3 

i  Hoffmann;  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1895,  p.  188. 

2  Morris;  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1897,  p.  100. 

3  Brewer  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.'Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  3,  July,  1877,  P-  78. 


Annotated  List  of  Species  1^7 

350.  Calcarius   lapponicus   (Linn.).     Lapland  Longspur. 
An  uncommon  and  irregular  spring  and  autumn  migrant  along 

the  coast  as  far  south  as  Duxbury,  occurring,  however,  regularly 
and  not  uncommonly  in  the  autumn  at  Ipswich.  Mr.  G.  M.  Allen 
saw  one  at  Fresh  Pond,  Cambridge,  on  March  25,  1899  and  it 
has  been  taken  in  one  instance  at  Springfield,  November  28,  1895, 
and  is  also  recorded  from  Templeton.  The  reason  for  this 
species'  scarcity  in  southern  portions  of  the  State  is  that  their 
southward  migration  turns  inland  at  about  Ipswich,  they  occur- 
ring farther  southeast  of  the  Alleghany  mountains  only  as  strag- 
lers.  It  occurs  in  winter  at  Ipswich  only  accidentally,  a  male 
being  taken  on  January  6,  1877. 

October  9  to  December  11  ;  February  22   to  May  i  ;   (Winter). 

Cambridge:  [One  instance].  Essex  County:  "October.  Rare." 
Ipswich  :  "  Not  uncommon  winter  visitant."  Springfield  :  One  instance. 
Templeton  :    "Winter  visitor." 

Note  :   Rhynchophanes  mccoivnti.     (Lawr.).     McCown's  Longspur. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard  records  one  taken  on  January  7,  1877,  by  Mr.  E.  A. 
Bangs  at  Ipswich.*  This  specimen  we  learn  from  Mr.  O.  Bangs  was 
bought  in  the  Boston  Market  by  him  and  his  brother  when  boys,  they  be* 
ing  told  at  the  time  that  the  bird  came  from  Ipswich,  but  although  Mr. 
Bangs  believes  the  specimen  to  probably  have  been  taken  in  the  State, 
the  evidence  is  so  insufficient  tJiat  the  record  is  only  worth  this  casual 
mention. 

351.  Plectrophenax  nivalis  (Linn.).     Snow  Bunting. 

A  common  winter  visitant  from  the  north,  often  abundant  along 
the  coast.  Audubon's  reference  to  its  breeding  in  Massachusetts 
is  undoubtedly  an  error,  and  the  record  of  its  breeding  at  Spring- 
field in  1862  has  been  expunged,  the  bird  having  been  Ju7ico 
hiemalis. 

October  15  to  March  30  (May). 

Amherst  :  "  Occasional ....  in  severe  winters."  Berkshire  :  "  Irregu- 
lar winter  visitant,  not  abundant."  Bristol  County:  "Common  winter 
visitant  on  the  coast,  less  common  inland."  Brookline  :  "  Rare  winter 
visitant."  Cambridge:  Common  winter  visitant.  Abundant  in  migra- 
tions. Cohasset :  "Common  in  winter."  Dedham :  "Occasionally 
common  in  winter,  appearing  in  large  flocks."     Essex  County :  "  Octo- 

^Maynard;  Birds  of  East.  No.  Amer.,  Revised  Ed.,  1896,  p.  516. 


128  Birds  OF  Massachusetts 

ber  to  April  or  May.  Abundant.'"  Ipswich:  "Abundant  winter  visit- 
ant." Martha's  Vineyard  :  "  Uncommon  winter  visitant."'  Springfield: 
"  Common  winter  visitor."  Templeton :  "Common  and  regular  winter 
visitor."     Wellesley:   "Rather  common  but  irregular  winter  visitant." 

352.  Spinus  pinus  (Wils.).     Pine  Finch. 

An  irregular  but  often  abundant  winter  visitant  from  the  north. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  it  breeds  on  the  mountains  in  Berkshire, 
and  its  nest  has  been  twice  found  in  the  State,  once  on  May  9, 
1859,  in  Cambridge,  one  of  the  eggs  of  which  set  is  now  in  the 
collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,^  and  again 
at  Newton  in  May,  1883. ^ 

September  24  to  May  27  (July  15). 

Berkshire  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitant.  Probably  breeds  on  the  higher 
mountains."  Bristol  County :  "  Irregular  winter  visitant,  varying  in 
abundance."  Brookline:  "Common  winter  visitant."  Cambridge: 
Irregular  winter  visitant,  sometimes  very  abundant.  Cohasset :  "  Com- 
mon in  winter."  Dedham  :  "Rather  scarce  winter  visitor."  Essex 
County:  "Winter."  Ipswich:  "  A  few  seen."  Springfield:  "Irregular 
winter  visitor,  not  usually  common."  Wellesley:  "  Spring  and  autumn 
migrant,  and  winter  visitant." 

353.  Astragalinus  tristis  (Linn.).     American  Goldfinch. 
A  permanent  resident,  very  common   in  summer,  and   not   un- 
common in  winter. 

Amherst:  "Common  resident."  Berkshire:  "Abundant  summer 
resident.  Rare  in  winter."  Bristol  County:  ''  Common  permanent  resi- 
dent." Brookline:  "  Abimdant  permanent  resident."  Cambridge:  Very 
common  permanent  resident.  Cohasset:  "Abundant  all  the  year." 
Dedham:  "  Common  resident."  Essex  County:  "Resident.  Abundant." 
Ipswich:  "  Abundant  permanent  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  ;  "Com- 
mon resident."  Springfield  :  "  Common  permanent  resident."  Temple- 
ton:   "  Common  resident."     "Wellesley:  "  Common  resident." 

354.  Acanthis  linaria  (Linn.).     Redpoll. 

An  irregular,  but  sometimes  abundant  winter  visitant  from  the 
north. 

(October  17)  October  25  to  April  25. 

Amherst:  "Irregular  in  winter  and  spring."  Berkshire:  "Irregular 
winter  visitant."       Bristol    County:    "  Irregular  winter  visitant,  varying 

'  Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway;  Birds  of  N.  Amer.,  Land  Birds,  Vol.  I,  1874. 

p.  387. 

^  Morse,  teste  Purdie;  Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  30. 


Annotated   List   of    Species 


129 


in  abundance."  Brookline  :  "  Common  irregular  winter  visitant."  Cam- 
bridge :  Irregular  winter  visitant,  often  very  abundant.  Cohasset :  "Com- 
mon in  winter."  Dedham :  "  Often  common  in  the  winter."  Essex 
County:  "Winter.  Common."  Ipswich:  "  Occasionally  common  in 
winter."  Springfield  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitor."  Templeton  :  "  Com- 
mon winter  visitor."  Wellesley  :  "  Common,  often  abundant,  but  irreg- 
ular winter  visitor." 

355.  Acanthis  linaria  rostrata  (Coues).  Greater  Red- 
poll. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant  near  tlie  coast,  where  it  is  some- 
times  common. 

December  27  to  February  24. 

Brookline :  One  instance.  Cambridge  :  Irregular  winter  visitor. 
Ipswich:  "Three  taken  in  February,  1900."  Wellesley:  "  Irregular,  but 
not  xary  uncommon  winter  visitor." 

356.  Acanthis  linaria  holboellii  (Brehm).  Holboll's 
Redpoll. 

A  very  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The  positive 
records  are  :  Swampscott,  two  males  were  shot  on  March  26,  1883, 
and  are  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  William  Brewster;^  Lexing- 
ton, a  female  was  taken  March   10,  1890,  by  Dr.   Walter  Faxon.^ 

357.  Acanthis  hornemannii  exilipes  (Coues).  Hoary 
Redpoll. 

A  very  rare  winter  visitant  from  the  north.  The  positive 
records  are  :  Massachusetts,  a  bird  from  the  State  taken  in  1870, 
and  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zool- 
ogy;  3  Revere  Beach,  a  pair  killed  March  9,  1873,  by  Messrs. 
H.  M.  Spelman  and  A.  P.  Chadbourne.  Mr.  Spelman  now  has 
the  male  in  his  collection,  and  Mr.  Chadbourne  the  female ;  * 
Swampscotty  one  was  taken  November  16,  1878,  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Jeff- 
ries ;^  Revere  Beach^  a  pair  was  shot  March  8,  1879,  t>y  Mr.  Forster 
H.  Brackett  and  deposited  in  the  collection    of  Mr.   Charles    R. 

'  Brewster  ;  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1887,  p.  163. 

^  Brewster;  in  Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,  p.  472. 

3  Allen  ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  583,   p.  30  of  separate. 

"  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  3,  Apr.,  1887,  p.  163. 

^  Brewer;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1879,  P-  121. 


130 


Birds    of  Massachusetts 


Lamb  ;  ^  Ccunbridge^  a  male  was  taken  by  Mr.  Henry  M.  Spelman, 
November  15,  1880  ;  ^  Nantasket  Beach^  a  male  was  shot  February 
22,  1883,  by  Mr.  Matthew  Lucas  [=iLuce  ?],  Jr.,  and  is  now  in  Mr. 
William  Brewster's  collection  ;  ^  Mantasket, '''- a  few"  were  taken 
in  the  winter  of  i882-'83,  according  to  Mr.  A.  P.  Chadbourne  ;  ^ 
SA.t\\  Waltham,   one   t^ken    March   20,    1888,   by  Dr.    Walter  Faxon  ; 

Massachusetts,    Dr.  T.    M.  Brewer  recorded   as   "  undoubtedly  "^ 
from  Massachusetts  a  bird  in  the  collection  of  F.    P.   Atkinson ;  3 
Newtonville^  a  specimen  is   cited  by   Mr.    A.    P.    Morse   as  in  the 
collection  of  the  Museum  of  Wellesley  College,  No.  10,861.^ 
November  15  to  March  20. 

Note:  Acantkis  brewsterii'R.idgw.     Brewster's  Linnet. 

The  type  of  this  supposed  species,  which  was  taken  at  Waltham,  Nov- 
ember I,  1870,  by  Mr.  William  Brewster,  remains  unique.  It  may  possibly 
be  a  hybrid,  and  until  more  is  known  about  this  form,  it  requires  only 
this  mention.^ 

358.  Loxia  leucoptera  Gmel.     White-winged  Crossbill. 

A  rare    and    irregular  winter    visitant   from    the    north,  often 
abundant.     It  was   abundant  in  the  State  during  the  winters  of 
i854-'55,  i86o-'6i,  i868-'69,   i88i-'82,  i889-'9o,  and  especially 
so  in  1899-1900. 
,         October  22  to  May  12   (May  25). 

Amherst:  "  Occasionally  seen."  Berkshire:  "  Irregular  winter  visit- 
ant." Bristol  County:  "Very  rare  and  irregular  winter  visitant." 
Common  in  1900."  Brookline  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitant."  Cambridge: 
Irregular  winter  visitant.  Cohasset :  "  Numerous  in  winter  of  1899-1Q00." 
Dedham  :  "Common  winter  visitor "  [.?].  Essex  County:  "Winter." 
Ipswich  :  "Common  in  winters  of  [i868-'69]  and  1899-1900."  Springfield: 
"  Irregular  winter  visitor."  Templeton  :  "  Rare  and  irregular  winter 
visitor."     Wellesley:    "  Scarce  and  irregular  winter  visitor." 

359.  Loxia  curvirostra  minor  (Brehm).  American  Red 
Crossbill. 

An  irregular  visitant  at  all  seasons  and  in  varying  abundance. 

1  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  IV,  No.  3,  Apr.,  1887,  p.  163. 

^  Chadbourne;  Quart.  Journ.  Boston  Z06I.  Soc,  Vol.  II,  No.  3,  Apr.,  1883^ 

P-3I- 

3  Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  1879,  p.  270. 

•*  Morse;  Birds  of  Wellesley,  1897,  p.  290. 

^  Ridgway;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VI,    No.  7,  July,  1872,  p.  433. 


Annotated  List   of    Species 


131 


Breeds  also  irregularly  and  rarely.  It  nested  in  August,  1875,  at 
Tyngsborough.^  Young  birds  were  obtained  at  Weston  in  May, 
1862  ;■-  birds  were  also  taken  in  first  plumage  in  August  in 
Newtonville ;  ^  it  was  also  found  breeding  in  Framingham  in 
1884;  3  three  females  were  taken  in  April,  1889,  near  Highland 
Light,  Cape  Cod  which  had  just  deposited  eggs  *  and  Derhaps  bred  t3^ 
at  Winchendon  in  1888.^  It  probably  occasionally  breeds  in 
Berkshire  County. 

Amherst:  "  Very  irregular,  some  years  common."  Berkshire:  "Found 
at  all  seasons."  Bristol  County  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitant."  Brookline  : 
"  Common  migrant, ....  irregular  at  all  seasons."  Cambridge  :  Of  irreg- 
ular occurrence  at  all  seasons.  Cohasset:  "Irregular  winter  visitor." 
Dedham  :  "A  very  erratic  winter  visitor."  Essex  County:  "Winter. 
Abundant."  Ipswich:  Irregular  at  all  seasons.  Martha's  Vineyard: 
"  Uncommon  migrant."  Springfield:  "  Irregular  winter  visitor  :  it  may 
occasionally  breed  here."  Templeton  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitor."  ^A^el- 
lesley  :    "  Irregular  winter  visitant ....  sometimes  common." 

360,  Carpodacus  purpureus  (Gmel.).     Purple  Finch. 

A  common  summer  resident,  and  not  uncommon  in  winter, 
tho.ugh  varying  in  numbers  during  different  years. 

March  8  to  October  21. 

Amherst :"  Common  summer  resident."  Berkshire:  "Common  sum- 
mer resident,  rare  in  winter."  Bristol  County:  "  Common  summer  resi- 
dent. Casual  in  winter."  Brookline:  "  Permanent  resident,  rare  in  win- 
ter, common  in  summer."  Cambridge :  Permanent  resident.  Very 
common  from  March  to  October ;  irregular,  but  sometimes  abundant  in 
winter.  Cohasset:  "  Numerous  in  summer,  common  in  winter."  Ded- 
ham: "Common.  A  few  winter."  Essex  County:  "Resident.  Com- 
mon." Ipswich  :"  Common  summer  resident."  Martha's  Vineyard  : 
"Uncommon  summer  resident."  Springfield:  "Tolerably  common 
summer  resident,  more  numerous  during  migration  ;  occasionally  here 
during  winter."  Templeton:  "  Common  summer  resident."  Wellesley: 
"  Common  summer  resident  ....  sometimes  found  in  winter." 

361.  Pinicola  enucleator  canadensis  (Cab.).  Canadian 
Pine  Grosbeak. 

An  irregular,  but   often   abundant  winter  visitant^.    Appearing, 

1  Maynard  ;   Birds  of  East.  N.  Amer.,  1882,  Appen.,  p.  518. 

2  Allen  ;   Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  11,  Jan.,  1870,  p.  584,  p.  31  of  separate. 
2  Browne;    Auk,  Vol.  II,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1885,  p.  105. 

^Miller;    Auk,  Vol.    VII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1890,  p.  228. 
5  Brewster  ;    Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct..  1888,  p.  390. 


1^2  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

however,  along  the  northern  border  of  the  State  m  small  num- 
bers much  more  regularly  than  elsewhere.  Of  the  large  flights, 
the  most  recent  was  in  the  winter  of  i8g2-g^^ 

November  4  to  April  4. 

Amherst:  "Common,  but  very  irregular  winter  visitor."  Berkshire: 
*'  Irregular  winter  visitant."  Bristol  County  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitant, 
varying  in  abundance."  Brookline  :  "  Common  irregular  winter  visitant." 
Cambridge  :  Irregular  winter  visitant.  Frequently  common,  sometimes 
abundant.  Cohasset :  "Irregular  in  winter."  Dedham  :  "Erratic  win- 
ter visitor."  Essex  County:  "Winter.  Rather  rare."  Springfield: 
*' Irregular  winter  visitor."  Templeton  :  "  An  irregular  winter  visitor." 
Wellesley  :  "  Irregular  winter  visitor." 

362.  Coccothraustes  vespertinus  (Coop.).  Evening  Gros- 
beak. 

An  accidental  visitant  from  the  northwest.  There  was  a  great 
incursion  of  this  species  into  New  England  in  the  winter  of  1889- 
1890,  when  specimens  were  taken  at  the  following  places : 
Adams,  Agawam,  Amherst,  Ayer  Junction,  Berkshire,  Boxford, 
Crescent  Beach,  East  Brimfield,  Lanesboro,  Lenox,  Lynn,  Melrose, 
Natick,  Reading,  Sheffield,  South  Natick,  South  (not  North)  Sud- 
bury, Taunton,  Tyngsborough,  Wellesley,  West  Newton,  West  Pel- 
ham,  West  Roxbury  and  Williamstown.  This  is  probably  the 
most  interesting  bird-flight  ever  recorded  in  Massachusetts.^ 

January  i  to  April, 

Berkshire:  "Appeared  in  considerable  numbers  in  the  winter  of  1889- 
1890."  Bristol  County:  "One  instance.  Mar.  8,  1S90."  Cambridge: 
Known  to  have  occurred  only  in  the  winter  of  iS89-'9o.  Springfield: 
Winter  of  i889-'90.     "Wellesley:  "Casual." 


EXTIRPATED    SPECIES.* 

I.    Meleagris  gallopavo  Linn.     Wild  Turkey. —  This  spe- 
cies was  a  common  permanent  resident  in  the  State  until  about  a 

1  Brewster;  Auk,  Vol.  XII.  No.  3,  July,  1895,  PP-  245-256. 
^Brewster;   Minot's  Land  &  Game  Birds,  2nd  ed.,  1895,   PP-  47°'  47^-   See 
also  Auk,  O.  &  O.  and  Forest  &  Stream  for  1890. 

*  Allen;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No.  3,  Sept.,  1876,  pp.  53-60. 


Extinct    Species  1^7 

hundred  years  ago.  It  became  very  rare  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  being  practically  extirpated  in  the  '30's.  A 
few  lingered  however  in  the  wilder  districts  about  Mounts  Tom 
and  Holyoke,  and  the  last  specimen  actually  known  to  have  been 
captured  in  the  State  was  shot  on  Mount  Tom  in  the  winter  of 
i85o-'5i.  It  has  also  been  reported  as  seen  on  Mount  Holyoke 
as  late  as  1863,  when  one  was  said  to  have  been  flushed  by  a  hunt- 
ing party. -^  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway  record  it  as  having  been 
shot  at  Montague  and  in  other  towns  in  Franklin  County  "  within  a 
few  years,"  i.  e.  prior  to  1874. 

2.  Grus    americana    (Linn.).      Whooping    Crane.  —  This 

species  occurred  without  doubt  at  the  time  of  the  settlement  of 
the  State,  Emmons  includes  it  in  his  1833  list  as  a  "  rare  but 
regular  visitant." 

3.  Grus  mexicana  (Mtill.),  Sandhill  Crane.  —  This  spe- 
cies probably  occurred  with  the  preceding. 

4.  Olor  buccinator  (Rich.).  Trumpeter  Swan.  —  This 
species  is  generally  believed  to  have  occurred  in  the  State  about 
two  hundred  years  ago. 


EXTINCT    SPECIES.* 

1.  Plautus  impennis  (Linrj.).  Great  Auk.  —  Formerly  of 
undoubted  occurrence  along  our  shores.  Among  the  shell-heaps  at 
Ipswdch,  fragments  of  its  bones  have  been  found.  Gosnold  alludes 
to  its  presence  on  Cape  Cod  at  the  time  of  his  explorations  in  1602, 
and  an  old  gunner,  residing  at  Chelsea  Beach  assured  Audubon 
that  he  "  well  remembered  the  time  when  the  Penguins  were 
plentiful  about  Nahant,  and  some  other  islands  in  the  bay." 

2.  Camptolaemus  labradorius  (Gmel.).  Labrador  Duck. 
—  Formerly  a  not  uncommon  winter  visitant,  but  very  rare  during 

1  Pierce;  Forest  &  wStream,  Vol.  XXXIII,  p.  46. 

*  Allen  ;  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No.  3,  Sept.,  1876,  pp.  53-60. 


134  *  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

the  early  part  of  the  19th  century  as  attested  by  Peabody  (1839), 
Audubon  (1842)  and  Putnam  (1856).  The  recorded  specimens 
from  the  State  are  :  Vineyard  Islands^  a  pair  taken  by  Daniel  Web- 
ster was  sent  by  him  to  Audubon/  and  is  now  preserved  in  the 
U.  S.  National  Museum.  Ipswich^  two  males  were  killed  in  No- 
vember, 1854,  by  Nicholas  Pike  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ipswich  River. 
One  of  these  "birds  is  now  in  the  collection  of- the  Long  Island 
Historical  Society  of  Brooklyn,  New  York.^  Bosto7i  Harbour,  a 
young  male  was  taken  with  a  lot  of  Eiders  by  a  gunner  in  1850,  and 
given  to  Theodore  Lyman.  He  presented  it  to  the  Boston  Soci- 
ety of  Natural  History,  in  whose  mounted  collection  the  specimen 
now  is; 3  Swampscott,  a  female  was  shot  early  in  September,  1862, 
by  Arthur  Thomas.'*     This  bird  is  now  in  the  Cory  Collection. 


INTRODUCED    SPECIES. 

1.  Lagopus  lagopus  (Linn.).  Willow  Ptarmigan. —  One 
was  taken  in  Manchester  on  May  10,  1859.^  It  was  supposed  to 
have  been  brought  from  Labrador  or  Newfoundland  on  a  vessel. 
However  as  the  specimen  is  not  of  the  subspecies  aUenixX.  could  not 
have  been  a  native  of  Newfoundland  and  so  must  have  been 
secured  elsewhere,  probably  in  Labrador.  The  specimen  is  now 
preserved  in  the  Essex  Institute  collection  at  Salem. 

2.  Tympanuchus  americanus  (Reich.).  Prairie  Hen. — 
This  bird  was  introduced  into  Barnstable  and  Berkshire  Counties 
in  the  '8o's  and  also  on  Naushon  Island.  These  last  have  been 
exterminated.  In  1893  a  few  were  introduced  at  Springfield, 
but  they  soon  disappeared. 

'  Audubon;  Birds  of  America,  Vol.  VI,  p.  329. 

^  Dutcher,y?a!V  Pike;  Auk,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1890,  pp.  205,  206. 

3  Hyatt;   Proc.    Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XXII,  1884,  read  May  2,  1883, 

P-  350- 

'^  Butcher;  Auk,  Vol.  XI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  1894,  pp.  7,  8. 
^Coues;   Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  V,  1868,  p.  289. 


Introduced  Species 


135 


3.  Pedioecetes  phasianellus  (Linn.).  Sharp-tailed 
Grouse.  —  Mr.  Newton  Dexter  records  one  shot  at  Westport 
about  May  17,  1892,  where  a  small  number  were  introduced.^ 

4.  Pedicecetes  phasianellus  campestris  Ridgw.  Prairie 
Sharp-tailed  Grouse. —  Twenty  were  liberated  in  January,  1892, 
near  Springfield.  This  experiment  at  introduction  proved  a 
failure. 

5.  Coturnix  coturnix  (Linn.).  European  Quail. —  In  the 
'70's  and  '8o's  numbers  of  these  birds  were  liberated  at  various 
localities  in  the  State, '-^  but  as  far  as  we  know,  they  have  now  be- 
come exterminated. 

6.  Phasianus  torquatus  Gmel.  Ring-necked  Pheasant. 
—  This  species  has  been  liberated  on  Cape  Cod  where  it  has 
gained  a  permanent  foothold,  and  others  have  been  set  free  at 
various  localities  in  the  State.  This  is  the  species  that  is  general- 
ly introduced  here,  and  is  often  erroneously  called  the  Mongolian 
Pheasant. 

7.  Lophortyx  gambeli  (Gambel).  Gambel's  Partridge. — 
A  number  were  liberated  by  the  State  Fish  and  Game  Commission 
in  Berkshire  and  Bristol  Counties  3  in  1893,  also  at  Winch  en  don 
in  i89i,*andon  Martha's  Vineyard  in  1890.  These  last  were 
exterminated  in  two  years. 

8.  Starnoenas  cyanocephala  (Linn.).  Blue-headed 
Pigeon.— One  was  taken  October  10,  1870,  at  Brookline.  It  was 
doubtless  an  escaped  cage  bird,  and  is  now  preserved  in  the 
mounted  collection  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History. 

9.  Chenalopex  aegyptiaca  (Linn.).  Egyptian  Goose. — 
These  birds  have  been  introduced  into  the  State  at  various  times. 

>  Dexter;   Forest  &  Stream,  Vol.  XXXVIII,  p.  517. 

^  See  Forest  &  Stream,  June  28,  Aug.  2,  9,  23,  Sept.  6,  Nov.  15,  29,  Dec.  6, 
27,  1877. 

3  Forest  &  Stream  ;  Vol.  XXXIX,  p.  294. 

4  Editor;  O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1891,  p.  158. 


I '2  6  Birds  of  Massachusetts 

One  was  taken,  Mr,  C.  J.  Maynard  writes  us,  by  a  Mr.  Worley,  a 
taxidermist,  on  the  Charles  River,  near  Weston.  Mr.  Maynard  is 
quite  sure,  however,  that  the  bird  escaped  from  a  Mr.  Bush.  We 
have  heard  indirectly  of  other  records  for  the  State,  but  we 
believe  they  are  all  of  escaped  tame  birds. 

10.  Sturnus  vulgaris  (Linn.).     Starling. 

One  hundred  were  liberated  in  the  spring  of  1897  in  Forest 
Park  at  Springiield.  but  eventually  they  all  disappeared.^ 

11.  Passerina  ciris  (Linn.).  Painted  Bunting. —  This 
species  has  thrice  been  observed  in  the  State,  viz. :  Brookline^  a 
male  was  noted  June  5,  1896,^  by  Mr.  H.  V.  Greenough  ;  ArHng- 
toft^  a  male  was  seen  July  22,  1894,  at  Mystic  Pond,  by  Dr.  W. 
Faxon  ;  3  Cape  Cod,  where  one  was  seen  by  Mr.  G.  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  a 
number  of  years  ago.*  It  seems  probable  that  these  specimens 
were  escaped  cage  birds  rather  than  actual  stragglers  from  the  south. 

12.  Carduelis  carduelis  (Linn.):  European  Goldfinch. — 
Since  the  early  '8o's  it  has  been  observed  occasionally  in  Massa- 
chusetts, at  Arlington,  Cambridge,  Brookline,  Falmouth  and  Wal- 
tham.  It  has  also  been  reported  breeding  at  Northville,  near 
Worcester,  in  July,  1890.^ 

13.  Passer  domesticus  (Linn.).  English  Sparrow.  —  An 
abundant  resident  throughout  the  State  especially  about  the  cities, 
towns  and  villages.  It  was  first  introduced  into  Massachusetts 
in  1868,  when  birds  were  liberated  at  Boston. 

14.  Serinus  [Crythagra]  butracea  (Swains.).  Yellow 
Finch.  —  One  was  shot,  early  in  February,  1879,  at  South  Scitu- 
ate,  by  Mr.  William  S.  Borland.^  At  the  time,  Mr.  Borland  writes 
us,  it  was  feeding  with  a  flock  of  Redpolls. 

1  Morris;  Birds  of  Springfield,  1 901,  p.  43. 

2  Howe  ;  Auk,  VoL  XIII,  No.  2,  Apr.,  1896,  p.  261. 
^  Faxon  ;  in  verbis. 

''  Miller;    in  litteris. 

^Reed;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XV,  No.  8,  Aug.,  1890,  p.  19. 

^  Brewer  ;     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  XX,  1879,  P-  271. 


Species  Erroneously  Recorded  I  ■2'? 

15.  Serinus  serinus  (Linn.).  Serin  Finch. — One  was 
taken  near  Springfield  in  November,  1866.^  It  was  probably  an 
escaped  cage  bird. 


SPECIES    ERRONEOUSLY    RECORDED. 

1.  Podilymbus  cristatus  Linn.  Crested  Grebe.  —  An 
Old  World  species  mentioned  by  several  of  the  earlier  writers, 
doubtless  through  misconception  of  its  actual  range. 

2.  Procellaria  pelagica  Linn.  Stormy  Petrel. —  This 
pelagic  species  was  included  by  the  earlier  writers,  but  it  has  not? 
been  positively  known  to  occur  in  the  State. 

3.  PufiFxnus  cinereus  (Gmel.).  Black-tailed  Shearwater. 
—  A  Pacific  species,  included  in  Putnam's  Essex  County  List,, 
1856,  doubtless  through  a  mistake  in  identity.^ 

4.  Mergus  albellus  (Linn.).  Smew. —  E.  A.  Samuels  says 
that  this  bird  is  very  rare  in  the  autumn.*  There  is  however,  no- 
reason  as  yet  to  suppose  that  the  species  occurs  here. 

5.  Phalacrocorax  graculus  (Linn.).  Green  Cormorant. — 
This  species  is  included  in  Peabody's  List,*  but  his  remarks  prob- 
ably refer  to  the  Common  Cormorant  {P.  carbo)  and  not  to  this 
European  species.'* 

6.  Buteo  borealis  [Falco]  harlani  (Aud.).  Harlan's 
Hawk.  —  Included  in  Peabody's  1839  list  on  Nuttall's  authority. 
There  is  however  no  reason  for  supposing  that  it  occurs  here.^ 

7.  Buteo  cooperi  Cass.  Cooper's  Red-tailed  Hawk. — 
A  bird  supposed  to  be  of  this  species  was  taken  near  Cambridge, 

1  Allen  ;   Amer.  Nat,,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  635,  p.  y]  of  separate. 
^  Putnam;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  1856,  p.  222. 
^Samuels;  Birds  of  Mass.,  1864,  p.  13. 
^  Peabody ;  Birds  of  Mass.,  1839,  p.  397. 
^  Peabody;  Birds  of  Mass.,  1839,  p.  269. 


I  28  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

November  17,  1866,  by  Mr.  William  Brewster;  but  it  later  proved 
to  be  a  young  B.  lineatiis  of  unusually  light  coloring.^ 

8.  Falco  richardsoni  \==.  aesalon]  Ridgw.  Richardson's 
Merlin,  —  Included  in  Peabody's  list  on  Nuttall's  authority;  the 
Pigeon  Hawk  {F.  columbarms)   is  probably  the  bird  referred  to.^ 

9.  Argytria,  maculata  Cab.  &  Heine.  Linnaeus'  Emerald. 
—  In  August,  1865,  Mr.  William  Brewster  took  a  Hummingbird  at 
Cambridge, 3  and  sent  it  to  Geo.  O.  Welch  of  Lynn  to  be  prepared 
for  the  cabinet,  and  later,  after  examining  the  specimen  returned 
to  him,  it  was  found  to  be  this  South  American  species.  It  is 
probable  that  through  some  mistake,  a  different  bird  was  returned 
to  Mr.  Brewster  from  that  which  he  sent  to  the  taxidermist. 

10.  Sphyrapicus  varius  nuchalis  Baird.  Red-naped  Sap- 
sucker. —  A  specimen  supposed  to  be  of  this  race  was  taken  at 
Cambridge,*  but  its  peculiar  coloration  was  undoubtedly  due  to 
individual  variation. 

11.  Dryobates  villosus  leucomelas  (Bodd.).  Northern 
Hairy  Woodpecker. —  Chadbourne  includes  this  species  in  his 
Williamstown  list,^  but  it  is  not  now  admitted  as  a  Massachusetts 
bird. 

12.  Vireo  atricapillus  Woodh.  Black-capped  Vireo. —  The 
record  of  a  specimen  taken  at  Lanesboro  on  September  8,  [1S91] 
by  Mr.  R.  T.  Fisher  was  undoubtedly  an  error.^ 

13.  Helinaea  [Helmitherus]  swainsonii  Aud.  Swain- 
son's  Warbler. —  Audubon  by  a  singular  lapsus,  gives  this  as  a 

1  Allen  ;  Amer,  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No,  10,  Dec,  1869,  p.  518,  p.  i^' of  sepa- 
rate, and    Baird,  Brewer  &  Ridgway  ;  Land  Birds,  Vol.  Ill,   1874,  p.  296. 

^  Peabody  ;   Birds  of  Mass.,  1839,  p.  270. 

3  Allen ;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No,  12,  Feb.,  1870,  p.  645,  pp.  46,  47  of  sepa- 
rate. 

"Brewer;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol,  XVII,  1875,  p,  443. 

^Chadbourne  ;   Williamstown  List,  18 158,  p,  358, 

^Fisher;    O.  &  O.,  Vol.  XVI,  No.  10,  Oct.,  1891,  p.  15S. 


Apocryphal   Species  ^39 

Massachusetts  bird,^  on  the  authority  of  Brewer,  who  later  corrects 
the  statement.^ 

14.  Quiscalus  major  Vieill.  Boat-tailed  Grackle. — 
E.  A.  Samuels  said  that  a  pair  bred  at  Cambridge  in  i86i,3  but 
doubtless  the  birds  were   Q.  q.  ceneus. 

15.  Sturnella  magna  neglecta  (Aud.).  Western  Meadow- 
lark. —  A  bird  asserted  to  be  of  this  species  was  seen  for  four 
days  by  Bradford  Alexander  Scudder  at  Taunton.  It  was  identi- 
fied only  by  song,  and  was  said  to  be  larger  than  S.  magna^  while 
the  western  bird  is  smaller.  It  is  very  doubtful  if  the  record 
should  be  allowed  to  stand.* 

16.  Peucsea  aestivalis  bachmanii  (Aud.).  Bachman's 
Finch. —  Recorded  from  Berlin,  Mass.,  by  Dr.  T.  M.  Brewer, 
and  later  corrected  by  him,  the  bird  having  been  found  to  be 
Ammod?'amus  henslowii^ 

17.  Ammodramus  [Centronyx]  bairdii  (Aud.).  Baird's 
Sparrow. —  The  first  specimens  of  the  Ipswich  Sparrow  {Fasser- 
cuhis princeps)  were  referred  to  this  species  before  their  true 
identity  was  discovered.^ 


APOCRYPHAL  SPECIES. 

I.  Picus  phillipsii  Aud.  Phillips'  Woodpecker. —  Known 
only  from  an  adult  male  procured  by  Nuttall  in  the  State,  and 
figured  and  described  by  Audubon.' 

1  Audubon  ;  Birds  of  Amer,,  Vol.  II,  1841,  pp.  84,  85. 

=^  Brewer;   Proc.  Bost.    Soc.    Nat.    Hist.,    Vol.    XVI,   1875,   P-  45^  P- 4  of 
separate. 

^  Allen  ;  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  1864,  P-  85. 

*  Scudder;  Auk,   Vol.  XV,  No.  3,  Oct.,  1898,  p.  333. 

^  Brewer  ;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  VIII,  1859,  pp.  21  and  74. 

*  Allen;  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  VII,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  pp.  630-632,    pp.  32-34 
of  separate. 

■'Audubon;   Birds  of  Amer.,  Vol.  IV,  1842,  p.  238. 


140 


Birds  of   Massachusetts 


2.  Muscicapa  minuta  Wils.  Small-headed  Flycatcher. — 
The  specimens  referred  to  this  supposed  species  by  the  early 
writers  were  doubtless  the  Least  Flycatcher  {Empidonax  mini- 
mus) . 


RECAPITULATION. 


Authentic  Birds  of  the  State    . 

Species    .         ...         .         . 

Subspecies        .         .         . 
Species  noted,  but  not  enumerated  for  various 
Extirpated  Species  ..... 
Extinct  Species       ..... 
Introduced  Species  .... 

Species  Erroneously  Recorded 
Apocryphal  Species         .... 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  1886  List  gave  as  fully  authenticated  birds  of 
the  State,  three  hundred  and  forty  species.  Of  those  we  have 
dropped  ten  for  various  reasons  explained  in  the  text,  and  have 
added  thirty-two  species. 


. 

.         362 

. 

320 

. 

42 

reasons 

14 

. 

4 

. 

2 

. 

15 

. 

17 

. 

2 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Consisting  only  of  faunal   lists    exclusively  on    Massachusetts 
birds. 

1833:  Emmons,  Ebenezer.  A  Catalogue  of  the  Animals  and  Plants  in 
Massachusetts.  II.  Birds.  By  Ebenezer  Emmons,  M.  D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Natural  History  in  Williams  College.  Hitchcock's 
Report  Geol.,  Mineral.,  Bot.,  and  Z06I.  of  Mass.  Amherst,  pp. 
454-551.  Annotations  on  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  species. 
Second  ed.,  Amherst,  pp.  528-534,  1835.  Atmotations  on  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  species.  Also  separate,  Amherst,  1835, 
pp.  1-142,  Birds,  pp.  8-14. 

1834 :  Emmons,  Ebenezer.  Observations  on  the  time  of  appearance  of 
the  Spring  Birds  in  Williamstown,  Mass.,  in  the  years  1831,  1832, 
and  1833.  Amer.  Journ.  of  Sci.,  Vol.  XXVI,  p.  208.  Observations 
on  twenty-three  species. 

1837  :  Brewer,  Thomas  M.  Some  additions  to  the  Catalogue  of  the  Birds 
of  Massachusetts  in  Prof.  Hitchcock's  Report,  etc.  Bost.  Journ. 
Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  Art.  XX,  pp.  435-439.  Read  Dec.  7,  1836. 
Annotations  on  thirty  four  species. 

1839  :  Peabody,  William  B.  O.  A  Report  on  the  Ornithology  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Boston,  pp.  255-404.  Full  annotations  on  two  hundred 
and  eighty-six  species. 

1841:  Peabody,  William  B.  O.  A  Report  on  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts 
made  to  the  legislature  in  the  season  of  i838-'39.  Bost.  Journ.  Nat. 
Hist.,  Vol.  Ill,  Nos.  1-2,  Jan.,  1840,  Art.  2,  pp.  65-266.  Same  as 
last,  with  new  introduction. 

1846  :  Holder,  J.  B.  Catalogue  of  Birds  noticed  in  the  vicinity  of  Lynn, 
during  the  years  of  i844-'5-'6.  Pub.  Lynn  Nat.  Hist.  Soc,  No.  I, 
Dec,  pp.  1-8.  A  nominal  list  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  fit>e  spe- 
cies.  Second  ed.,  [Nov.,  1885]  pp.  1-8.  "yl  literal  reprint  of  the 
original . . . .  with  a  few  typographical  errors  ....  corrected.'''' 

1856 :  Putnam,  F.  W.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Essex  County,  Massa- 
chusetts, etc.  Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  I,  pp.  201-225,  Appendix  to 
list,  pp.  225-231,  also  Errata  and  Corrigenda.  A  slightly  annotated 
list  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-three  species. 

1858:  Chadbourne,  P.  A.  Natural  History  Cafalogue  for  Williamstown, 
Mass.  Williams  Qiiarterly,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  pp.  342-358.  Williams- 
town. A  nominal  list  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  species, 
without  annotations,  pp.  357,  358.  Three  species  are  queried,  three 
etitered  erroneously. 


142  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

1864  •  Samuels,  E.  A.  Ornithology  of  Massachusetts.  List  of  species 
Eleventh  Ann.  Report  Sec.  Mass.  Board  Agric,  1863.  Appendix, 
Pt.  I,  pp.  xviii-xxix  An  annotated  list  of  two  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  species.    Also  issued  in  separate  form  ;    Boston,  pp.  1-14. 

1864:  Allen,  J.  A.  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  found  at  Springfield,  Mass., 
with  Notes  on  their  Migrations,  Habits,  etc.  ;  together  with  a  List 
of  those  Birds  found  in  the  State  not  jet  observed  at  Springfield. 
Proc.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  IV,  No.  11,  Apr.,  May,  June,  pp.  48-80,  No. 
Ill,  July-Aug.,  Sept.,  pp.  81-98.  Communicated  May  2,  1864.  A 
fully  anfiotated  list  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  species.,  with 
an  atinotated  list  of  one  hundred  and  one  others.,  kjioxvn  to  the 
State. 

1869-1870:  Allen,  J.  A.  Notes  on  Some  of  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  10,  Dec,  1869,  pp.  505-519, 
No.  II,  Jan.,  1870,  pp.  568-585,  No.  12,  Feb.,  1870,  pp.  631-648. 
Issued  also  in  separate  form  1870,  pp.  1-49.     Notes  on  ninety  species. 

1870:  Maynard,  C  J.  The  Naturalist's  Guide,  etc.,  with  a  complete  cata- 
logue of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  Massachusetts.  Boston.  List 
covers  pp.  81-170.  Annotations  on  two  hundred  and  tii}iety-nine 
species.  Later  editions  have  colored  frontispiece,  and  colored 
plate  of  Passerculus  pri7iceps ;  and  Cejitrofiyx  bairdii  of  the  first 
edition  is  corrected  to  Passerculus  princeps.  The  latest  editions 
omit  the  catalogue  of  Mass.  Birds. 

1878:  Allen,  J.  A.  A  List  of  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts,  with  Annota- 
tions. Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  Vol.  X,  pp.  1-37.  An  annotated  list  of 
three  hundred  and  sixteen  species,  one  extirpated.,  twenty-four  of 
probable  occurrence,  three  doubtful,  and  six  introduced  species, 
with  one  added  in  addendum. 

1882:  Chadbourne,  Arthur  P.  The  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts. 
Qviart.  Journ.  Bost.  Zool.  Soc,  Vol.  I,  Nos.  i,  2,3,  pp.  4-5,  20-24,  30- 
35.  Me?ition  of  ninety-two  species,  giving"  the  original  records  of  each. 

1883:  Stearns,  W.  A.  Birds  of  Amherst.  Amherst  Record,  June  13, 
July  II,  18,  [2]  5,  and  Aug.  8.  An  annotated  list  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  species. 

1883:  Stearns,  W.  A.  Birds  of  Amherst.  Bull.  Mass.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I, 
Nos.  1-4,  Apr.  &  July,  pp.  6-23.  A  revised  edition  of  his  former 
list  with  anjiotations  on  ofte  hufidred  and  sixty-four  species. 

1884:  Brewster,  William.  Notes  on  the  Summer  Birds  of  Berkshire 
County,  Massachusetts.  Auk,  Vol.  I,  No  i,  Jan.,  pp.  5-16.  Re- 
mar  Jis  on  various  species. 

1884:  Newcomb,  R.  S.  Notes  on  the  Gralhe.  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol. 
XXII,  No.  25,  July  17,  pp.  483,  484. 

1886 :  Allen,  J.  A.  A  Revised  List  of  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts.  Bull. 
Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  No.  7,  July,  pp.  221-271,  also  Addi- 
tions   and    Corrections,    ibid.,  p.  [291].     A   fully  annotated  list  op 


Bibliography  1 43 

three  hundred  and  forty  species^  four  extirpated,  nineteen  enumer- 
ated as  of  probable  occurrence,  one  enumerated  as  doubtful^  and  four 
as  introduced. 

1887  :  Clark,  Hubert  Lyman.  The  Birds  of  Amherst  and  Vicinity,  inckid- 
ing  nearly  the  whole  of  Hampshire  County,  Mass.  Amherst,  pp. 
1-55.  An  annotated  list  of  one  hundred  aud  seventy-seven  species 
separated  and  arranged  in  a  very  inconvenient  manner. 

1887:  Andres,  Frederic  W.  A  list  of  the  Birds  of  Bristol  County, 
Mass.  Ornithologist  and  Oologist,  Vol.  XII,  No.  9,  Sept.,  pp.  137- 
141.  An  annotated  list  of  two  hundred  and  two  species.  See  also 
additions  by  C.  L.  Phillips,  ibid.,  No.  11,  p.  192,  of  four  additional 
species  ;  by  A.  C.  Bent,  ibid..,  No.  12,  pp.  199,  200,  of  four  additional 
species;  by  C.  H.  Carpenter,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  3,  p.  48;  by  J.  C. 
Cahoon,  ibid..,  No.  4,  p.  60;  and  ibid..  No.  7,  p.  loi,  by  A.  C.  Bent ; 
and  Vol.  XIV,  No.  2,  p.  25,  by  J.  Cahoon,  adding  three  species  in 
all,  making  a  total  of  two  hundred  and  thirteen  species.  This  list 
for  various  reasons  we  are  assured  cannot  be  literally  accepted. 

1888:  Cahoon,  J.  C.  The  Shore  Birds  of  Cape  Cod.  Ornithologist  and 
Oologist,  Vol.  XIII,  No.  8,  Aug.,  pp.  121-124,  continued  ibid..  No. 
9,  Sept.,  pp.  129-132,  continued  ?^/</.,  No.  ro,  pp.  153-156,  also  addi- 
tions ibid..,  No.  12,  p.  189,  and  ibid..,  Vol.  XIV,  No.  9,  p.  141.  Anno- 
tations on  thirty-five  species,  the  additio?is  adding  two  more. 

1888:  Brewster,  William.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Winchendon,  Worcester 
County,  Massachusetts.  Auk,  Vol.  V,  No.  4,  Oct.,  pp.  386-393.  A 
list  of  eighty-two  birds  found  in  the  breeding  season,  with  remarks. 

1889:  Faxon,  Walter.  On  the  Summer  Birds  of  Berkshire  County, 
Massachusetts.  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  i,  Jan.,  pp.  39-46,  No.  2,  Apr., 
pp.  99-107.     Annotations  on  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  species. 

1889  :  Ingalls,  Chas.  E.  Birds  of  Templeton  and  the  adjoining  towns. 
Gardner  News,  Vol.  XX,  No.  52,  June  i,  Gardner.  An  annotated 
list  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  five  species. 

1891  :  Colburn,  Wm.  and  Robert  O.  Morris.  The  Birds  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Valley  in  Massachusetts.  Springfield,  pp.  1-24,  An  anno- 
tated list  of  two  hundred  and  twelve  species. 

1891  :  Wakefield,  Julius  Ross.    A  List  of  the  Birds  of  Dedham.     Dedham 

Hist.  Register,  Vol.  II,  Apr.,  pp.  70-74.  Annotated  list  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-one  species.  See  also  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Ded- 
ham, ibid.,  Jan.,  pp.  1-7. 

1892  :  Greenwood,   Ralph.     Shore  and   Marsh   Birds  found  at  Chatham, 

Mass.  Sliooting  and  Fishing,  Vol.  X,  No.  17,  Aug.  17,  pp.  6,  7. 
An  annotated  list  of  thirty-seven  species. 

1892 :  Clarke,  E.  H.  Wild  Fowl  seen  at  Cohasset.  Forest  and 
Stream,  Vol.  XXXVIII,  No.  i,  Jan   7,  p.  9. 

1892:  C.  H.  E.  Notes  on  the  Ducks  of  Cohasset,  Mass.,  1860-92.  Orni- 
thologist and  Oologist,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  6,  June,  p.  90.  An  anno- 
tated list  of  twenty-five  species. 


144  Birds   of  Massachusetts 

[1894] :  Colburn,  Wm.  W.  A  list  of  the  principal  birds  that  frequent  Forest 
Park,  and  of  others  whose  occurrence  there  is  probable.  Park 
Com.  Report,  Springfield,  for  1893.      \_Not  examined.'] 

1895  :  Chapman,  Frank  M.  Handbook  of  Birds  of  Eastern  North  Amer- 
ica, etc.  New  York,  pp.  i-xiv,  1-421.  Annotatio7is  for  inatiy  spe- 
cies for  Cambridge  and  vicinity  including  the  seacoast  from  Lynn 
to  Boston  ;   also  average  dates  of  migrations. 

[1895]:  Colburn,  William  W.  Our  Friends  the  Birds.  Park  Com. 
Report,  Springfield,  for  1894.  An  approximate  list  of  the  birds 
that  frequent  Forest  Park  as  residents,  regular  migrants,  and  irreg- 
ular visita7its. 

1895  :  Hoffmann,  Ralph.  Notes  on  the  Summer  Birds  of  Central  Berkshire 
County,  Mass.  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  No.  i,  Jan.,  pp.  87-89.  A71  anno- 
tated list  of  twenty-seve?t  species. 

1895  :  Faxon,  C.  E.  Birds  of  Arnold  Arboretum  [West  Roxburj,  Boston]- 
Garden  and  Forest,  Vol.  VIII,  Julj  24,  pp.  292,  293.  A71  unanno- 
tated  list  of  sixty-six  species. 

[1896]  :  Colburn,  Wm.  W.  A  list  similar  to  the  one  published  the  pre- 
ceding year.  Park  Com.  Report,  Springfield,  for  1895.  \^Not 
examifted]. 

1896:  Ricker,  Everett  W.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Hull,  Massachusetts. 
Newtonville,  pp.  1-36,  pis.  I-III.  Afi  annotated  list  of  seventy- 
seven  species  with  two  added  in  an  appendix.  A  practically  value- 
less list. 

[1897]:  Colburn,  Wm.  W.  A  list  similai-  to  the  one  published  the  two 
preceding  years.  Park  Com.  Report,  Springfield,  for  1896.  \^Not 
examined.] 

1897  :  Morse,  Albert  Pitts.  A  History  of  Dover,  etc.  By  Frank  Smith. 
Dover.  Birds,  by  Albert  Pitts  Morse,  pp.  336-348.  Aft  amiotated 
list  of  one  hicndred  and  seventy-nine  species.  Issued  in  separate 
form,  pp.   1-13. 

1897:  Morse,  Albert  Pitts.  An  annotated  list  of  the  Birds  of  Wellesley 
and  Vicinity,  etc.  Wellesley,  pp.  1-56,  pi.  I.  An  annotated  list  of 
two  hundred  atid forty-four  species. 

1897:  Howe,  Reginald  Heber,  Jr.  Birds  of  Brookline.  Chronicle, 
Brookline.  Jan.,  16,  23,  and  30.  An  annotated  list  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  species.  Addition  of  two  species,  ibid.,  Dec.  18,  1897. 
Qiiarto  reprint,  Jan.,  1887,  also  revised  and  republished  with  intro- 
duction in  "  Brookline,  the  History  of  a  Favored  Town,"  by  Charles 
Knovvles  Bolton.  Brookline,  1897,  pp.  1-213,  Birds,  pp.  173-184. 
List  numbering  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  species. 

[1898]  :  Colburn,  Wm.  W.  and  Robert  O.  Morris.  Two  hundred  and  three 
wild  birds  observed  in  Forest  Park  and  immediate  vicinity.  Park 
Com.  Report,  Springfield,  for  1897.      \^Not  examined.] 


Bibliography  14^ 

[1899] :  Colburn,  Wm.  W.  and  Robert  O.  Morris.  A  list  similar  to  the 
one  published  the  preceding  year.  Park  Com.  Report,  Spring- 
field, for   1898.   \^Not  examined.^ 

1899:  Howe,  Reginald  Heber,  Jr.  On  the  Birds'  Highway.  Boston,  pp. 
1-175,  Appendix.  Birds  of  Hubbardston,  Massachusetts  and  Vicin- 
ity, pp.  159-162.  A71  imanytotated  list  of  fifty-six  species.  See  also 
Chap.  Vni  of  text. 

[1900]  :  Colburn,  Wm.  and  Robert  O.  Morris.  Our  Wild  Birds.  [A 
Springfield  List],  Park  Com.  Report,  Springfield,  for  1899,  pp.  1-79. 
Bird  List,  pp.  39-42.  A  barely  annotated  list  of  tivo  hundred  and 
three  species. 

1900:  Faxon,  Walter  and  Ralph  Hoffmann.  The  Birds  of  Berkshire 
County,  Massachusetts.  Coll.  Berkshire  Hist,  and  Sci.  Soc,  Vol. 
in,  Feb.,  pp.  109-166,  Pittsfield.  A  fully  annotated  list  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-seven  species.,  with  remarks  on  introduced  species, 
and  a  list  of  four  erroneously  recorded  species.,  and  a  bibliography. 
Issued  in  separate  form,  pp.  1-60. 

1900 :  Howe,  Reginald  Heber,  Jr.  The  Birds  of  Brookline.  Chronicle, 
Brookline.  Mar.  10,  17,24,  31,  May  19,  26,  June  2.  A  revised  list, 
ivith  annotations,  of  one  hundred  aud  fifty  four  species,  with  an 
appendix  including  two  more,  and  with  bibliography.  Issued  also 
in  separate  form  pp.  [1-14].  Addition  to  list,  ibid.,  Dec.  i,  1900,  p. 
15,  adding  eight  species. 

1900  :  Wright,  Horace  W.  Birds  in  the  Public  Garden.  Boston.  Evening 
Transcript.     May  12,  18,  and  26.     A  nominal  list. 

[1901]  :  Morris,  Robert  O.  Our  Wild  Birds.  A  list  of  birds  found  in 
Forest  Park  and  vicinity.     Park  Com.  Report,  Springfield,  for  1900, 

PP-  30-33- 
igoi :  Morris,  Robert  O.  The  Birds  of  Springfield  and  Vicinity  [includ- 
ing a  portion  of  Connecticut].  Springfield,  1900,  pp.  1-54-  An 
annotated  list  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  four  species,  with  four  addi- 
tional of  doubtful  occurrence,  six  introduced,  and  one  extirpated, 
bibliography,  index  and  map. 


ERRATA. 

Page    9,  line  ii,  for  '•''  Empidoiiax  acadicus"  read  Empidonax  vtrescens. 
"     lo,  line  31,  for  "  Troglodytes  a'cdon"  read  Hylemathrous  aedoti.     A 

change  in  nomenclature  found  to  be  necessary. 
"     12,   line  37  for  '■''  A7iorthura  hietnalis''^    read    Troglodytes  kt'emalis. 
"     30,  for  "  Near  Boston  "  read  Near  Bosto7i. 
"     37,  after  "  spring  "  insert  and. 

"     58,  omit  annotation  under  '•''Merganser  americanus^''  for  "  Ipswich." 
"     60,  iox '•'' Peleca7tus  fuscus''''  Y^Sid  Pelecafius  occidentalis  {l^\nv\.^. 
"     70,  line  20,  after  "of"  insert  "the  Museum  of." 
"     78,  for  "  Sherbourne  "  read  Sherborn. 
"     85,  after  '"83"  insert  quotation  marks. 
"   100,  line  2g,  iov  ^'■pustVlus'"  read  pusi'lla. 

"  loi,  line  19,  before  "  Maryland  Yellow-throat  "  insert  Northern. 
"  131,  line  6,  after  "and"  insert  it. 

line  36,  for  "visitants"  read  visitant. 
"  135,  line  23,  for  "  Starnceas  "  read  Starnceas. 
"  136,  line  25,  for  "  butracea  "  read  butyracea. 


INDEX. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 

Arabic  figures  refer  to  pages  on  which  species  numerically  appear  as  in 
the  Annotated  List,  etc.  Those  in  italics  refer  to  pages  where  species  occur  in 
the  chapter  on  Faunal  Areas. 


AcANTHis  brewsterii,  130. 

hornemannii  exilipes,  129. 

linaria,  128. 

linaria  iiolbcEllii,  129. 

linaria  rostrata,    129. 
Accipiter  atricapillus,  62. 

cooperi,  62. 

velox,  62. 
Actitis  macularia,  38. 
yEgialitis  meloda,  10,  34. 

meloda  circumcincta,  34. 

semipalmata,  33. 

vocifera,  10,  33. 

wilsonia,  33. 
^x  sponsa,  48. 
Agelseus  phoeniceus  /o,  115. 
Alca  torda,  23. 
Alia  alle,  23. 
Ammodramus  caudacutus  /o,  124. 

[Centronyx]  bairdii,  139. 

henslowii,  /o,  125. 

maritimus,  9,  123. 

nelsoni,  124. 

nelsoni  subvirgatus,  125. 

savannarum     passerinus    /o, 
125. 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  84. 

garrulus,  84. 
Anas  boscas,  50. 

obscura,  //,  50. 
Anorthura  hiemalis,  /.?,  91. 
Anser  albifrons  gambeli,  49. 
Anthus  pennsilvanicus,  99. 
Antrostomus  carolinensis,  73. 

vociferus,  10,  73. 
Aquila  chrysaetos,  64. 
Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis 

64. 
Ardea  candidissima,  9,  45. 

cserulea  9,  45. 

egretta,  9,  45. 

herodias,  45. 


Ardetta  exilis,  //,  47. 
Arenaria  interpres,  32. 
Argjtria  maculata,  138. 
Asio  accipitrinus,  67. 

wilsonianus,  67. 
Astragalinus  tristis,  128. 
Bartramia  longicauda,  /o,  38. 
Bonasa  umbellus,  /o,  15. 

umbellus  togata,  12,  15. 
Botaurus  lentiginosus,  47. 
Branta  bernicla,  50. 

canadensis,  49. 

canadensis  hutchinsii,  49. 

leucopsis,  50. 

nigricans,  50. 
Bubo  virginianus,  68. 

virginianus   subarcticus,    68. 
Buteo  borealis,  63. 

[Falco]  harlani,  137. 

cooperi,  137. 

lineatus,  63,  138. 

platjpterus,  64. 

swainsoni,  63. 
Butorides  virescens,  //,  46. 
Calamospiza  melanocorvs,  117. 
Calcarius  lapponicus,  127. 

ornatus,  126. 
Calidris  arenaria,  39. 
Camptolaemus  labradorius,  133. 
Canachites  canadensis,  15. 
Cardinalis  cardinalis,  9,  118. 
Carduelis  carduelis,  136. 
Carpodacus  purpureas,  //,  131. 
Catharista  urubu,  9,  60. 
Cathartes  aura,  9,  61. 
Ceophloeus  pileatus  abieticola,  12^ 

77- 
Cepphus  grylle,  24. 

mand'ti,  24. 
Certhia    familiaris    americana,   12^ 

90. 
Ceryle  alcyon,  72. 


148 


Birds  of   Massachusetts 


Chsetura  pelagica,  73. 
Charadrius  dominicus,  32. 
Charitonetta  albeola,  55. 
Chaulelasmus  streperus,  51. 
Chen  cserulescens,  48. 

hyperborea,  48. 

hjperborea  nivalis,  48. 
Chenalopex  segyptiaca,  135. 
Chondestes  grammacus,  123. 
Chordeiles  virginianus,  72. 
Circus  hudsonius,  61. 
Cistothorus  palustris,  /o,  91. 

stellaris,  /o,  91. 
Clangula  clangula  americana,  54. 

islandica,  55. 
Clivicola  riparia,  82. 
Coccothraustes  vespertinus,  132. 
Coccjzus  auiericanus,  /o,  74. 

ervthrophthalmus,    74. 
Colaptes  auratus  luteus,  74. 
Colinus  virginianus  10,  15. 
Colj'mbus  auritus,  20. 

holboellii,  20. 
Compsothlvpis    americana   usnese, 

II,  109. 
Corvus  americanus,  88. 

corax,  87. 

ossifragus,  9,  88, 
Coturnix  coturnix,  135. 
Crjmophilus  fulicarius,  43, 
Crjptoglaux  acadica,  12,  71. 

tengmalmi  richardsoni,  70. 
Cyanocitta  cristata,  89. 
Dafila  acuta,  52. 
Dendroeca  aestiva  10,  108, 

auduboni,  107. 

blackburnise,  is,  105. 

cserulescens,  12,  107,  108. 

castanea,  106, 
.  coronata,  /j,  107. 

discolor,  /o,  103. 

dominica,  105. 

maculosa,  13,  107. 

palmarum,  104. 

palmarum  hypochrysea,  104. 

pennsilvanicus,  11,  106. 

rara,  9,   106. 

striata,  105. 

tigrina,  109. 

vigorsii,  10,  104. 

virens,  //,  105. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  //,  116. 
Dryobates  pubescens  medianus,  76. 

villosus,  12,  76. 

villosus  leucomelas,  138. 
Ectopistes  migratorius,  16. 
Elanoides  forficatus,  9,  65. 


Empidonax  acadicus,  9,  78. 

llaviventris,  78, 

minimus,  //,  78. 

ti-aillii  alnorum,  11,  78. 

virescens,  9,  78. 
Ereunetes  occidentalis,  39. 

pusillus,  38,  39. 
Erismatura  jamaicensis,  57. 
Falco  columbarius,  65,  138. 

peregrinus  anatum,  65. 

richardsoni  [cesalon],  138. 

rusticolus  gyrfalco,  66. 

rusticolus  obsoletus,  66. 

sparverius,  66. 

tinnunculus,  66. 
Fratercula  arctica,  25. 
Fregata  aquila,  60. 
Fulica  americana,  19. 
Fulmarus  glacialis,  23. 
Galeoscoptes  carolinensis,  //,  93. 
Gallinago  delicata,  42. 
Gallinula  galeata,  9,  19. 
Gavia  arctica,  21. 

imber,  //,  12. 

lumme,  21. 
Gelochelidon  nilotica,  25. 
Geothlypis  agilis,  102. 

formosa,  102. 

Philadelphia,  12^  102. 

trichas  brachidactyla,  loi. 
Grus  americana,  133. 

mexicana,  133. 
Guiraca  caerulea,  9,  117. 
Haematopus  palliatus,  9,  32. 
Haliseetus  leucocephalus,  64. 
Harelda  hiemalis,  55. 
Harporrhynchus  rufus,  11,  93. 
Helinsea  [Helmitherus]  swainsonii 

138. 
Helminthophila  celata,  109. 

chrysoptera,  10,  no. 

leucobronchialis,  in. 

peregrina,  /j,  109. 

pinus,  9,  III. 

rubricapilla,  //,  /j,  no. 
Helmitherus  vermivorus,  9,  in. 
Helodromas  solitarius,  37. 
Hesperocichla  naevia,  94. 
Himantopus  mexicanus,  9,  34. 
Hirundo  erythrogastra,  83. 
Histrionicus  histrionicus,  55. 
Horizopus  virens,  79. 
Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis, 

Hylemathrous  aedon,  /o,  92. 
Hylocichla  alicite,  96. 

alicise  bicknelli,  /j,  96. 


Indexes 


149 


Hjlocichla  fuscescens,  //,  97. 

fuscescens  fuliginosa,  97. 

guttata  pallasii,  /o,  //,  12,^5. 

mustelinus,  /o,  98, 

ustulatus  swainsonii,  12,  96. 
IcTERiA  vireiis,  9,  loi. 
Icterus  galbula.  /o,  114. 

spurius,  9,  114. 
lonornis  martinica,  9,  19. 
JuNCO  hiemalis  /j,  120,   127. 

shufeldti,  120. 
Lagopus  lagopus,  134. 
Lanius  borealis,  87. 

ludovicianus  migrans,  10,  87. 
Larus  argentatus,  //,  29. 

atricilla,  //,  29. 

delawarensis,  30. 

glaucus,  30. 

kumlieni,  30. 

leucopterus,  30. 

marinus,  29. 

Philadelphia,  28. 
Limosa  fedoa,  35. 

hiemastica,  35. 
Lophodjtes  cucullatus,  58. 
Lophortjx  gambeli,  135. 
Loxia  curvirostra  minor,  //,  /j>,  130. 

leucoptera,  130. 
Macrorrhamphus  griseus,  36. 

griseus  scolopaceus,  36. 
Mareca  americanus,  52. 

penelope,  51. 
Megalestris  skua,  31. 
Megascops  asio,  lo,  69. 
Melanerpes  carolinus,  9,75. 

ervthrocephalus,  75. 
Meleagris  gallopavo,  132. 
Melospiza  georgiana,  //,  119. 

lincolnii,  119. 

melodia,  120. 
Merganser  americanus,  58. 

serrator,  58. 
Mergus  albellus,   137. 
Merula  migratoria,  95. 
Micropalama  himantopus,  36. 
Mimus  poh'glottos,  9,  //,  94. 
Mniotilta  varia,  112. 
Molothrus  ater,  /o,  116. 
Muscicapa  minuta,  140. 
Myiarchus  cristatus,  fo,  80. 
Nettion  carolinense,  52. 

crecca,  52. 
Nomonyx  dominicus,  57. 
Numenius  borealis,  35. 
hudsonicus,  35. 
longirostris,  35. 
Nuttallornis  borealis,  //,  /-?,  79. 


Nyctea  nyctea,  68. 

Nycticorax  nycticorax    neevius,  46. 

violaceus,  9,  46. 
Nyroca  affinis,  54. 

americana,  53. 

coUaris,  54. 

marila,  54. 

vallisneria,  53. 
OcEANiTES  oceanicus,  22. 
Oceanodroma  leucorrhoa,  21. 
CEdemia  americana,  56. 

deglandi,  56. 

perspicillata,  56. 
Olor  buccinator,  133. 

columbianus,  47. 
Otocorys  alpestris,  81. 

alpestris  arenicola,  81. 

alpestris  praticola,  81. 
Pagophila  alba,  30. 
Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis,   67. 
Parus  atricapillus,  //,  89. 

hudsonicus  ij,  89. 
Passer  domesticus,  136. 
Passerculus  princeps,  126. 

sandvvichensis   savanna,     //, 
125. 
Passerella  iliaca,  119. 
Passerina  ciris,  136. 

cyanea,  10,  //,  117. 
Pavoncella  pugnax,  38. 
Pedioecetes  phasianellus,  135. 

phasianellus  campestris,  135. 
Pelagodroma  marina,  22. 
Pelecanus  erythrorrhynchus,  60. 

fuscus,  60. 

occidentalis,  60. 
Perisoreus  canadensis,  88. 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons,  83. 
Peuciea  aestivalis  bachmanii,  139. 
Phalacrocorax  auritus,  59. 

carbo,  §g. 

graculus,  137. 
Phalaropus  lobatus,  43. 
Phasianus  torquatus,  135. 
Philohela  minor,  42. 
Picoides  americanus,  77. 

arcticus,  77. 
Picus  phillipsii,  139. 
Pinicola      enucleator     canadensis, 

131- 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  /o,  113. 
Piranga  erythromelas,  lO,  113. 

ludoviciana,   113. 

rubra,  112. 
Plautus  impennis,  133. 
Plectrophenax  nivalis,  127. 
Plegadis  autumnalis,  44. 


ISO 


Birds  of   Massachusetts 


Podilymbus  cristatus,  137. 

podiceps,  Ji,  20. 
Polioptila  caerulea,  9,  98, 
PocEcetes  gramineus,  10,  126. 
Porzana  Carolina,  //,  18. 

jamaicensis,  9,  18. 

noveboracensis,  18. 
Procellaria  pelagica,  117. 
Progne  subis,  83. 
Protonotaria  citrea,  9,  iii. 
Puffinus  borealis,  22. 

cinereus,  137. 

gravis^  22. 

puffinus,  22. 
QuERquEDULA  discors,  52. 
Qiiiscalus  major,  139. 

quiscula,  113. 

quiscula  ieneus,  113. 
Rallus  elegans,  9,  17. 

crepitans,  9,  17. 

virginianus,  //,  18. 
Recurvirostra  americana,  9,  34. 
Regulus  calendula,  98. 

satrapa,  12,  99. 
Rissa  tridactjla,  30. 
Rj^nchops  nigra,  9,  28. 
Rhjnchophanes  mccownii,  127. 
Sayornis  phoebe,  10,  79. 

saja,  80. 
Scolecophagus  carolinus,  114. 
Scotiaptex  cinerea,  69. 
Serinus  [Crythagra]  butyracea,  136. 

serinus,  137. 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  100. 
Sialia  sialis,  /o,  94. 
Simorrhynchus      cristatellus,      24, 

25- 
Sitta  canadensis,  12^  90. 

carolinensis,  /o,  90. 
Siurus  aurocapillus,  103, 

motacilla,  9,  loa. 

noveboracensis,  103. 
Somateria  dresseri,  57. 

mollissima  borealis,  57. 

spectabilis,  57. 
Spatula  clypeata,  53. 
Speotyto  cunicularia  hypogsea,  71. 
Sphyrapicus  varius,  12,  75. 

varius  nuchalis,  138. 
Spinus  pinus,  /j,  128. 
Spiza  americana,  9,  117. 
Spizella  breweri,  121. 

monticola,  121. 

pusilla,  /o,  121. 

socialis,  /o,  121. 
Squatarola  squatarola,  32. 
Starnsenas  cyanocephala,  135. 


Steganopus  tricolor,  43. 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  9,  82. 
Stercorarius  longicaudus,  31. 

parasiticus,  31. 

pomarinus,  31. 
Sterna  antillarum,  //,  18. 

dougalli,  II,  27. 

forsteri,  26. 

fuliginosa,  27. 

hirundo,  26. 

maxima,  9,  27. 

paradisiea,  27. 

sandvicensis  acuflavida,  27. 

caspia,  25. 
Strix  pratincola,  9,  72. 
Sturnella  magna,  /o,  115. 

magna  neglecta,  139. 
Sturnus  vulgaris,  136, 
Sula  bassana,  59. 
Sula  sula,  59. 

Surnia  ulula  caparoch,  71. 
Sjaiiphemia  semipalmata,  36. 
Syrnium  nebulosum,  69. 
Tachycineta    bicolor,  //,  82. 
Tantalus  loculator,  44. 
Thryothorus  ludovicianus,  9,  92. 
Totanus  flavipes,  37. 

melanoleucas,  37. 
Tringa  alpina,  41. 

alpina  pacifica,  41. 

bairdii,  40. 

canutus,  41. 

ferruginea,  41; 

fuscicollis,  40. 

maculata,  40. 

maritima,  40. 

minutilla,  39. 
Trochilus  colubris,  73. 
Tryngites  subruficollis,  39. 
Tympanuchus  americana,  134. 

cupido,  /o,  15. 
Tyrannus  dominicus,  81. 

tyi'^nnus,  /o,  80. 
Uria  lomvia,  15,  23,  24. 

troile,  23,  24. 
Vireo  atricapillus,  138. 

flavifrons,  /o,  85. 

gilvus,  86. 

noveboracensis,  9,  85. 

olivaceus.  86. 

philadelphicus,  86. 

solitarius,  //,  12,  85. 
Wilsonia  canadensis,  12,  100. 

mitrata,  9,  loi. 

pusilla,  100. 
Xanthocephalus       xanthocephalus, 
116. 


Indbxes 


151 


Xema  sabinii,  28. 
Zamelodia  ludoviciana,  //. 
Zenaidura  macrura,  //,  16,  118. 


Zonotrichia  albicolHs,  /j,  122. 
leucophrys,  122. 


VERNACULAR  NAMES. 


Auk,  Great,  133. 

Little,  23. 

Razor-billed,  23. 
Auklet,  Crested,  24. 
Avocet,  American,  9,  34. 
Bird,  Frigate,  60. 
Bittern,  American,  47. 

Least,  /o,  47. 
Blackbird,  Red-winged,  /o,  115. 

Yellow-headed,  116. 
Bluebird,  /o,  94. 
Bobolink,  //,  116. 
Bob-white,  /o,  15. 
Boobv,  59. 
Brant,  50. 

Black,  5c. 
Bunting,  Black-throated,  9,  117. 

Lark,  117. 

Painted,  136. 

Snow,  127. 
Cardinal,  9. 
Catbird,  /o,  93. 
Chat,  Yellow-breasted,  9,  loi. 
Chickadee,  //,  89. 

Hudsonian,  /j,  89. 
Chuck-will's-widow,  73. 
Coot,  American,  19. 
Cormorant,  Common,  59. 

Double-crested,  59. 

Green,  137. 
Cowbird,  10,  1 16. 
Crane,  Sandhill,  133. 

Whooping,  133. 
Creeper,  Brown,  12,  90. 
Crossbill,   American    Red,    //,    13, 
130. 

White-winged,  130, 
Crow,  American,  88. 

Fish,  9,  88. 
Cuckoo,  Black-billed,  74. 

Yellow-billed,'  10,  74. 
Curlew,  Eskimo,  35. 

Hudsonian,  35. 

Long-billed,  35. 
Dove,  Mourning,  /o,  16. 


Dowitcher,  36. 

Long-billed,  36. 
Duck,  American  Golden-eve,  54. 

American  Scaup,  54. 

Barrow's  Golden-eye,  55. 

Black,  //,  50. 

Buftle-head,  55. 

Canvas-back,  53. 

Harlequin,  55. 

Labrador,  133. 

Lesser  Scaup,  54. 

Long-tailed,  55. 

Mallard,  50. 

Masked,  57. 

Pintail,  52. 

Red-headed,  53. 

Ring-necked,  54. 

Ruddy,  57. 

Shoveller,  53. 

Wood,  48. 
Dunlin,  European,  41. 
Eagi.e,  Bald,  64. 

Golden,  64. 
Egret,  American,  9,  45. 
Eider,  American,  57. 

King,  57. 

Northern,  57. 
Emerald,  Linnieus',  138. 
Finch,  Bachman's,  139. 

Lark,  123. 

Lincoln's,  119. 

Pine,  128. 

Purple,  //,  131. 

Yellow,  136. 

Serin,  137. 
Flicker,  Northern,  74. 
Flycatcher,  Alder,  //,  78. 

Crested,  /o,  80. 

Green-crested,  9,  78. 

Least,  //,  78. 

Olive-sided,  //,  12^  79. 

Small-headed,  140. 

Yellow-bellied,  78. 
Frigate  Bird.  60. 
Fulmar,  23. 


152 


Birds  of  Massachusetts 


Gadwall,  5 1 . 

Gallinule,  f'lorida,  9,  //,  19. 

Purple,  9,  19. 
Gannet,  59. 

Gnatcatcher,  Blufe-graj,  9,  98. 
Godwit,  Hudsonian,  35. 

Marbled,  35. 
Goldfinch,  American,  128. 

European,  136. 
Goose,  American  White-fronted,  49, 

Barnacle,  50. 

Blue,  48. 

Canada,  49. 

Egyptian,  135. 

Greater  Snow,  48. 

Hutchins',  49. 

Lesser  Snow,  48. 
Goshawk,  American,  61. 
Grackle,  Boat-tailed,  139. 

Bronzed,  113. 

Purple,  113. 

Rusty,  114. 
Grebe,  Crested,  137. 

Holboell's,  20. 

Horned,  20. 

Pied-billed,  11,  20. 
Grosbeak,  Canadian  Pine,  131. 

Cardinal,  9,  118. 

Evening,  132. 

Rose-breasted,  //,  118. 

Blue,  9,  117. 
Grouse,  Canada,  15. 

Canadian  Ruffed,  12,  15. 

Prairie  Sharp-tailed,  135. 

Ruffed,  10,  15. 

Sharp-tailed,  135. 
Guillemot,  Black,  54. 

Maiidt's  24. 
Gull,  Black-backed,  29. 

Bonaparte's,  28. 

Glaucous,  30. 

Herring,  //,  29. 

Iceland,  30. 

Ivory,  30. 

Kittiwake,  30. 

Kumlien's,  30. 

Laughing,  /o,  29. 

Ring-billed,  30. 

Sabine's,  28. 
Gyrfalcon,  66. 

Black,  66. 
Hawk,  American  Rough-legged,  64. 

American   Sparrow,  66. 

Broad-winged,  64. 

Cooper's,  61. 

Cooper's  Red-tailed,  137. 

Duck,  6:;. 


Hawk,  Harlan's,  137. 
Marsh,  61. 

Night,  72. 

Pigeon, 65. 

Red-shouldered,  63. 

Red-tailed,  63. 

Sharp-shinned,  61. 

Swainson's,  63. 
Hen,  Heath,  /o,  15. 

Prairie,  134. 
Heron,  Black-crowned  Night,  46. 

Great  Blue,  45. 

Green,  /o,  46. 

Little  Blue,  9,  45. 

Snowy,  9,  45. 

Yellow-crowned  Night,  9,  46. 
Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated,  73. 
Ibis,  Glossy,  44. 

Wood,  44. 
Indigo-bird,  /o,  //,  117. 
Jaeger.  Long-tailed,  31. 

Parasitic,  31. 

Pomarine,  31. 
Jay,  Blue,  89. 

Canada,  88. 
Junco,  Slate-colored,  13. 
Kestrel,  66. 

Killdeer,  /o,  33. 
Kingbii'd,  /o,  80. 

Gray,  81. 
Kingfisher,  Belted,  72. 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned,  12,  99. 

Ruby-crowned,  98. 
Kite,  Swallow-tailed,  9,  65. 
Knot,  41. 
Lark,  Prairie  Horned,  Si, 

Shore,  Si. 
Linnet,  Brewster's,  128. 
Longspur,  Chestnut-collared,  126. 

Lapland,  127. 

McCown's,  127. 
Loon,  21. 

Red-throated,  21. 

Black-throated,  21. 
Martin,  Purple,  S3. 
Meadowlark,  /o,  115. 

Western,  139. 
Merganser,  American,  58. 

Hooded,  58. 

Red-breasted,  58. 
Merlin,  Richardson's,  138. 
Mockingbird,  9,  //,  94. 
Murre,  23. 

Briinnich's,  24. 
Nuthatch,  Canada,  12,  90. 

White-breasted,  /o,  90. 
Oriole,  Baltimore,  70,  114. 


Indexes 


-^53 


Oriole,  Orchard,  g,  114. 
Osprej,  American,  67. 
Oven-bird,  103. 
Owl,  Acadian,  12,  71. 

American  Barn,  9,  72. 

American  Hawk,  71. 

American  Long-eared,  67. 

Barred,  69. 

Burrowing,  71. 

Great  Gray,  69. 

Great  Horned,  68. 

Richardson's,  70. 

Screech,  10,  69. 

Short-eared,  67. 

Snowy,  68. 

Western  Horned  Owl,  68. 
Oystercatcher,  American,  9,  32. 

ARTRiDGE,  Gambel's,  135. 
Peewee,  Wood,  79. 
Pelican,  Brown,  60. 

White,  60. 
Petrel,  Leach's,  21. 

Stormy,  137. 

White-faced,  22. 

Wilson's,  22. 
Phalarope,  Northern,  43. 

Red,  43. 

Wilson's,  43. 
Pheasant,  Mongolian,  135. 

Ring-necked,  135. 
Phoebe,  10,  79. 

Say's,  80. 
Pigeon,  Blue-headed,  135. 

Passenger,  16. 
Pipit,  American,  99. 
Plover,  American  Golden,  32, 

Belted  Piping,  34. 

Black-bellied,  32. 

Killdeer,  10,  33, 

Piping,  10,  34. 

Semipalmated,  33. 

Wilson's,  33. 
Ptarmigan,  Willow,  134. 
Puffin,  25. 

Quail,  European,  135. 
Rail,  Black,  9,  18. 

Carolina,  //,  18. 

Clapper,  9,  17. 

King,  9,  17. 

Virginia,  //,  18. 

Yellow,  18. 
Raven,  87. 
Redpoll,  129. 

Greater,  129. 
Hoarv,  129. 
Holboll's,  129. 


Redstart,  American,  95. 
Robin,  American,  95. 
Ruft,  38. 
Sanderling,  39. 
Sandpiper,  Baird's^  ^o. 

Bartramian,  jo,  38. 

Butt-breasted,  39. 

Curlew,  41. 

Least,  39. 

Pectoral,  40. 

Purple,  40. 

Red-backed,  41. 

Semipalmated,  38. 

Solitary,  37. 

Spotted,  38. 

Stilt,  36. 

Western,  39. 

White-rumped,  40. 
Sapsucker,  Red-naped,  138. 

Yellow-bellied,  12,  75. 
Scoter,  American,  56. 

Surf,  56. 

White-winged,  56. 
Shearwater,  Black-tailed,  137. 

Cory's,  22. 

Greater,  22. 

Manx,  22. 

Sooty,  23, 
Shrike,  Great  Northern,  87. 

Migrant,  10,  87. 
Skimmer,  Black,  9,  28. 
Skua,  31. 
Smew,  137. 
Snipe,  Wilson's,  42. 
Snowbird,  Shufeldt's,  120. 

Slate-colored,  120. 
Sparrow,  Acadian  Sharp-tailed,  12. 

Baird's,  139. 

Brewer's,  121. 

Chipping,  /<7,  121. 

English,  136. 

Field,  10,  121. 

Fox,  119. 

Grasshopper,  10,  125. 

Henslow's,  10, 125. 

Ipswich,  126, 

Nelson's,  124. 

Savannia,  //,  125. 

Seaside,  9,  123. 

Shai  p-tailed,  /o,  124. 

Song,  120. 

Swamp,  //,  119. 

Tree,  121. 

Vesper,  /o,  126. 

White-crowned,  122. 

White-throated,  /j,  122. 


154 


Birds   of  Massachusetts 


Starling,  136. 

Stilt,  Black-necked,  9,  34. 

Swan,  Whistling,  47. 

Trumpeter,  133. 
Swallow,  Bank,  82. 

Barn,  83, 

Eave,  83. 

Rough-winged,  9,  82. 

White-bellied,  //,  82. 
Swift,  Chimney,  73. 
Tanager,  Scarlet, /o,  113. 

Summer,  9,  112. 

Western,  113. 
Teal,  Blue-winged,  52. 

European,  52. 

Green-winged,  52. 
Tern,  Arctic,  27. 

Black,  25. 

Cabot's,  27. 

Caspian,  25. 

Common,  26. 

Forster's,  26. 

Gull-billed,  25. 

Least,  10,  28. 

Roseate,  10,  27. 

Rojal,  9,  27. 

Sooty,  27. 
Thrasher,  Brown,  10,  93. 
Thrush,  Bicknell's,  13,  96. 

Grey-cheeked,  96. 

Hermit,  10,  11,  12,  95. 

Large-billed  Water,  9,  102. 

Newfoundland,  97. 

Olive-backed,  12,  96. 

Varied,  94. 

Water,  103. 

Wilson's,  //,  97. 

Wood,  /o,  98. 
Towhee,  /o,  118. 
Turkey,  Wild,  132. 
Turnstone,  32. 
ViREO,  Black-capped,  138. 

Blue-headed,  //,  12,  85. 

Philadelphia,  86. 

Red-eyed,  86. 

Solitary,  //,  12,  815. 

Warbling,  86. 

White-eyed,  9,  85. 

Yellow-throated,  /o,  85. 
Vulture,  Black,  9,  60. 

Turkey,  9,  61. 
Warbler,  Audubon's,  107. 

Bay -breasted,  106. 

Black  and  White,  112. 

Black  and  Yellow,  /J,   107. 

Blackburnian,  13,  105. 

Black-poll,  105. 


Warbler,    Black -throated  Blue,    12^ 
108. 

Black-throated  Green,  //,  105. 

Blue-winged,  9,  iii. 

Brewster's,  1 11. 

Canadian,  /.?,  100. 

Cape  May,  109. 

Cerulean,  9,  106. 

Chestnut-sided,  //,  106. 

Connecticut,  102. 

Golden-winged,  10,  no. 

Hooded,  9,   loi. 

Kentucky,  102. 

Mourning,  J2^  102. 

Nashville,  //,  /j,   no. 

Northern  Parula,  //,  109. 

Orange-crowned,  109. 

Palm,  104. 

Pine-creeping,  /o,  104. 

Prairie,  /o,  103. 

Prothonotary,  9,  in. 

Swainson's,  138. 

Tennessee,  /j,  109. 

Wilson's,  100. 

Worm-eating,  9,  in. 

Yellow,  /o,  108. 

Yellow  Palm,  104. 

Yellow-rumped,  13,  107. 

Yellow-throated,  185. 
Waxwing,  Bohemian,  84. 

Cedar,  8^. 
Whip-poor-will,  10,  73. 
Widgeon,  American,  52. 

European,  tji. 
W^illet,  36. 

Woodcock,  American,  42. 
Woodpecker,  American  Three-loed 

77- 

Arctic  Three-toed,  77. 

Northern  Downy,  76. 

Golden-winged,  74. 

Hairj^  12,  76. 

Northern  Hairy,  138. 

Northern  Pileated,  12^  77. 

Phillips',  139. 

Red-bellied,  9,  75. 

Red-headed.   75. 

Yellow-bellied,  12,  75. 
Wren,  Carolina,  9,  92. 

House,  /o,  92. 

Long-billed  Marsh,  10.  91. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  /o,  91. 

Winter,  /^,  91. 
Yellow-legs,  Greater,  37.    . 

Lesser,  37. 
Yellow-throat,  Northern  Maryland, 

lOI. 


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Howe,  R.H. 

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The  birds  of 

H8 

Massachusetts. 

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